GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

This course offers an overview over the main issues that inform Japan’s contemporary diplomatic relations. After reviewing theories of international relations and critically discussing their value for analysing international relations in East Asia, a brief historic overview will introduce the main topics of Japan’s modern foreign relations.
After this, the course proceeds by looking into several case studies of Japan’s foreign policy, focussing on bilateral and multilateral relations. Topics discussed include Japan’s territorial disputes with its neighbours, Japan’s efforts to manage the rise of China, aspects of Japan’s efforts in the field of international cooperation, Japanese proposals for fostering regionalization in Asia, and its efforts to tackle the growing global climate crisis.

Students who have completed this course should be able to:
• understand the main issues that inform Japan’s international position and develop individual research interests
• understand the variables that shape Japan’s present foreign relations
• critically assess the various interests of the major regional powers in Asia, including Japan
• gain an understanding of the most prominent theories of international relations, and be able to relate them to contemporary issues

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

Students are required to read mandatory assignments each week. Lectures will be used to introduce each topic; afterwards, a critical discussion of the texts will take place where students are strongly encouraged to voice their own opinions. In the second half of the semester, depending on the number of participants, students will have the opportunity to give individual or group presentations on a topic of their interest.
Students are required to hand in discussion points for the reading before each class, which will be the basis for the in-class discussion.
Teacher feedback will be given during the discussions and after the optional presentations; comments on the results of the two examinations will be given in written form in a timely manner.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Topics in Japan’s Foreign Relations

Topics in Japan’s Foreign Relations

2[対面/face to face]：International Relations Theory, East Asia, and Japan

Understanding “International Relations” and Japan’s policies theoretically

3[対面/face to face]：Main Issues of Japan’s Post War Diplomacy

Turning points and continuous characteristics of Japan’s foreign policy after 1952

4[対面/face to face]：Recent Strategic Shifts

Assessing the recent strategic changes in Japan’s Foreign Policy orientation since the 2000s

5[対面/face to face]：Japan and Regionalism in East Asia

Japan’s efforts to influence the emerging regional political and economic order in East Asia

6[対面/face to face]：Japan and the United States

The shifting alliance between Japan and the United States

7[対面/face to face]：Mid-Term Exam

Exam and summary of the course content so far

8[対面/face to face]：Japan and China

Japan's relations with China

9[対面/face to face]：Japan and the Korean Peninsula

Japan’s relations with North and South Korea

10[対面/face to face]：Japan and Russia

Japan’s relations with the Russian Federation

11[対面/face to face]：Japan and ASEAN

Japan’s relations with Southeast Asia

12[対面/face to face]：Japan and International Cooperation

Japan’s policies in international organizations

13[対面/face to face]：Japan and Climate Security

Japan's policies in tackling different dimensions of climate change

14[対面/face to face]：Conclusion: Quo vadis, Japan?

Wrap-up of course content and discussion of challenges for Japan’s foreign policy in the near future

Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.
Students are expected to closely read the assigned texts before class and to be ready to engage in discussion each week. Students are also required to prepare questions and discussion ideas based on interesting and/or problematic points of the assigned texts.

The readings for this course will largely rely on the following textbooks:

-Brown, James D. J. and Kingston, Jeff (eds.) 2017: Japan’s Foreign Relations in Asia, New York: Routledge.
-McCarthy, Mary M. (ed) 2018: Routledge Handbook of Japanese Foreign Policy, London and New York: Routledge
-Pekkanen, Robert J. and Pekkanen, Saadia M. (eds.) 2022: The Oxford Handbook of Japanese Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

The relevant chapters will be uploaded to the course website.

A list of assigned readings and further materials for reference will be distributed at the beginning of the semester. All required texts will be uploaded to the online course management system.

Participation and discussion: 30%
Mid-term exam: 30%
Final exam: 40%

Not applicable.

For GIS students who entered in 2012 - 2019:
This course is regarded as 100-level Introductory Courses.

None.