Japan and East Asia in Global Governance (Online Course/ Asianet) (3cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

Through this course participants will gain capacity to: • explain Japan’s contribution to global governance processes and institutions • identify particular political, social and economic factors that shaped Japan’s engagement with the selected global governance institutions and processes between 1945 and now • compare Japan’s activities in the selected global governance fields and institutions with those of the raising powers, such as China, and the established middle power, such as South Korea, in terms of normative starting points and practical implementation • critically discuss approaches of different theoretical traditions (e.g. realism, liberalism, social constructivism, institutionalism) to the notion of global governance and related themes of normative principles, authority and legitimacy in international affairs • identify, select and examine sources for the purpose of evaluating their academic merit and relevance • improve their ability to effectively communicate the results of their research and analyses in written form. Finally, knowledge gained by students during the course contributes towards pursuing Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Methods of completion

Online implementation method, lectures are recorded.

Content

The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the role that Japan has played in global governance institutions and process aimed at tackling global challenges since 1945. The course primarily addresses Japan’s long road from (re-)entering international organisations in the early post-war period, through exerting cautious and limited influence in those organisations and processes until the early 1990s, to the demonstration of increasingly assertive and pro-active attitude since the mid-1990s onwards. Moreover, the course explores the presence and activities of China and South Korea in the abovementioned institutions and process with the special emphasis on cooperation and contestation with Japan. This aspect of the course is especially important taking into account the growing role played by China in international affairs and how Japan has responded to this momentous shift in global balance of power. The course investigates Japan’s role in the United Nations, IMF and WB (Bretton Woods institutions) as well as G7/G20 summitry, among the others. Furthermore, specific themes such as financial/trade governance and climate governance are introduced and explored. Finally, the course present theories of global governance, inclusive of how the major IR schools address multilateralism in global affairs, the issue of governing global commons and multiplicity of stakeholders involved in those processes. The course is of interest to students interested in area and regional studies, IR, political science and contemporary history.

Materials

The list of compulsory and suggested learning materials will be provided on Moodle at the beginning of the course. The lecture recordings will be uploaded on Moodle accordingly.

Qualifications

Basic knowledge about Japanese and/or Chinese and/or Korean politics (for example the completion of course Contemporary East Asia/Johdatus Itä-Aasiaan) and/or IR/Political Science and/or contemporary history background.