TOPICS

「特殊講義 -国際平和活動：国連と日本-アフガニスタンでの国連の活動を事例に- 」（担当教員：山本 忠通 客員教授）の授業にて、元 JICA国際協力機構 南アジア部長の中原 正孝様をゲスト講師としてお招きし、「アフガニスタン支援：20年間の成果と今後の課題」というテーマでご講演いただきました。

中原様には昨年もご講義いただいており、2年連続でのご講演となります。

講義では「アフガニスタン支援」をテーマに、これまでの経緯や歴史を踏まえた上で、日本の国際協力の具体的な取り組みや課題について、ご自身のご経験を交えてお話いただきました。

国際関係学を学ぶ学生達にとって、専門家の方から実際のお話を伺うことができた今回の講義は、大変貴重な学びの機会となりました。

Four students of my undergraduate Advanced Seminar (30 students in total) participated in fieldwork in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, between September 1 and 5. In the Zemi Research Convention, they gave a presentation titled “Small-state hedging and economic constraints: The case of Mongolia’s “Third Neighbor Policy”. 

My students conducted interviews with government officials and visited the following venues, among others.  

Central Bank of Mongolia

Investment and Trade Agency of Mongolia

Genghis Khan National Museum 

Sükhbaatar Square

At the Central Bank of Mongolia

At the Central Bank of Mongolia - Can you tell three famous historical figures in the painting behind us? 

In the interview with central bankers, my students asked several questions, including those related to the bank’s priorities in its monetary policy and its contribution to promoting Mongolia’s economic diversification. In the interview with the officials of the Investment and Trade Agency, my students asked several questions, including those related to investment diversification and the “third neighbor” policy aimed at reducing Mongolia’s economic and energy dependence on China and Russia. 

At the Investment and Trade Agency of Mongolia

In addition to conducting interviews with government officials, we visited the Genghis Khan National Museum, which is an excellent venue for understanding the history of the Mongol Empire and its aftermath. We also visited other landmarks in Ulaanbaatar, including Sükhbaatar Square -its main central square.  

At the Genghis Khan National Museum 

At the Sükhbaatar Square, when the Governor-General of Australia was visiting Mongolia

Through this fieldwork, my students learned how the Mongolian government had implemented its foreign economic policy to address its external challenges. Building upon this valuable experience, they are ready to enhance the quality of their individual and group research! 

“During the research trip, I learned how to organize and conduct interviews in a professional setting. From preparing focused questions to listening carefully and adjusting the flow of conversation on the spot. Working as a team also taught me how to divide responsibilities, support each other, and synthesize our findings afterward. At the same time, hearing directly from officials gave me a much clearer and more practical picture of Mongolia’s economic challenges, especially how dependence on resources and external partners shapes decision-making. This combination of hands-on skills and real-world insights made the learning experience much more concrete than just studying theory in class.”

“This research has enabled me to deeply understand the geo-economic logic of Mongolia's efforts to develop in a constrained environment. Through this research, I have realized that the study of international relations must be combined with economic policies and institutional realities. I plan to further expand this interdisciplinary perspective in my future studies. I will use Mongolia's "third neighbor" strategy and debt management practices as examples to deeply study the autonomy strategies and risks of small countries in the competition among major powers, while also continuously monitoring the cooperation dynamics and financing model evolution of countries along China’s "Belt and Road" route.”

“Through this activity, I have learned that Mongolia, strategically located between China and Russia, remains highly dependent on the mining sector, yet the government is actively pursuing economic diversification and digital transformation. The government provides strong institutional support for investors through tax incentives, stability certificates, and special policies in free zones, alongside ongoing infrastructure development in railways, highways, and airports. In addition, initiatives such as the E-Mongolia platform highlight its digital governance agenda. Overall, Mongolia demonstrates significant investment potential in mining, renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, and tourism, making it an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investors.”

“During my field research trip to Ulaanbaatar and my interviews with the Central Bank of Mongolia and the Investment and Trade Agency, I not only gained substantial knowledge about Mongolia's current economic strategy but also accumulated practical research experience. I also learned that large projects require meticulous coordination among various institutions (Investment Bureau ↔ Finance Department ↔ Mongolian Bank) to manage finances and risk exposure. At the same time, the actual obstacles faced by third-country foreign direct investment - legal uncertainty, transportation/logistics restrictions, and infrastructure gaps - remain important constraints, and areas that need to be improved through relatively rapid policy adjustments (clear regulations, improved customs procedures, and the formulation of targeted incentives).”

11月6日（木）に国際関係学部「オープンゼミナール大会」を開催しました。

オープンゼミナール大会は、3回生以上が履修するゼミ（「専門演習」もしくは「Advanced Seminar」）を単位としたチームによるプレゼンテーション大会です。

今年は全33チームが発表を行いました。

各チームの発表は以下の特設ＨＰからご覧いただけます。

＜2025年 オープンゼミナール大会ＨＰ＞

オーディエンスは、3-4回生だけでなく、これからゼミ選択をおこなう2回生を中心とした在学生、卒業生・高校生など、学外のゲストも参加されました。

プレゼンをした学生はオーディエンスからたくさんのフィードバックをいただくことができましたので、この経験を今後のゼミ活動、卒業研究の作成に活かしていただければと思います。

発表者の皆さん、お疲れさまでした！！

大学院ウィークでは、国際関係研究科の特色や学びの魅力を紹介します。

最短2年で2つの修士号を取得できる「共同修士学位プログラム」や、1セメスター交換留学プログラムに参加した現役大学院生が、自身の体験談を通して大学院生活や留学についてお話しします。

大学院生活や国際的な進路に関する疑問を解消できる機会です。

次のような方の参加を歓迎します：

・英語基準の大学院で学びたい方

・将来、国際社会で活躍したい方

・国際関係研究科に関心のある方

皆さまのご参加をお待ちしています。