WATANABE, Hiroaki Richard

Programs and Languages

  • japanese|english|
  • japanese|english|

Specialization/Discipline

International Political Economy (East Asia/Asia-Pacific), US-Sino Trade Conflict and Economic Security, Japanese Economy, Comparative Political Economy (East Asia, Europe, USA), Labor and Social Welfare Policy (Japan, Europe)

Research Topic

In comparative political economy, I conduct research on the politics of labor market reform and precarious work in Japan from a comparative perspective. I also research Japan’s economic stagnation after the collapse of the bubble economy from a political economy perspective. In international political economy, I conduct research on the politics of regional economic integration in the Asia Pacific, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). I also research the retreat from regional/global economic integration caused by populism-based “Brexit” and “America First”, including from the perspective of economic security related to the US-Sino trade conflict and high-tech products such as semiconductors. 

Message for Applicants

I welcome graduate students interested in comparative political economy, particularly the political economy of East Asia (Northeast and Southeast Asia) and Europe, and in the international political economy of East Asia and the Asia Pacific. I emphasize the importance of critical analysis based on the perspective of “theory” and “practice” when conducting academic research. 

Advised Master’s Thesis (Last 5 years)

  • Observing Weak Political Activism in Japan Using a Psychological Analysis Framework 
  • How Has Vietnam’s Public Diplomacy Affected the Willingness of Overseas Vietnamese to Engage in Vietnam’s Economic Development? 
  • RCEP の政治学―地域経済統合への日中両国の取り組み  
  • Cambodia’s Foreign Economic Policy amid U.S.–China Rivalry  
  • Public-Private Partnerships for Improving Employment Services: A Case Study of Public Employment Services in Cambodia  
  • The Challenges for Implementing Digital Government Policy in Cambodia 
  • Vietnam–Japan Defense and Security Partnership against the Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific Region 
  • Barriers to Micro and Small Enterprises and Their Impact on Employment Creation and Economic Growth in Lao PDR 
  • An Analysis of the Impacts of the EU’s Sanctions on Domestic Oil Price 
  • A Political Analysis of the Trade Positions of Japan and India in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) 
  • New Trends in Singapore's Diplomacy with China under the Hedging Theory Framework: Focusing on Singapore's Post-2017 China Policy 
  • Chinese Provincial Government’s Roles in Promoting Japanese Investment through RCEP: The Case of Guangdong Province 
  • 日本における留学生政策と外国人労働者政策の連携と課題 – カナダの事例と比較して
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Lecture
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Publication
(2020) The Japanese Economy, Newcastle: Agenda Publishing, New York: Columbia University Press.
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(2014) Labour Market Deregulation in Japan and Italy: Worker Protection under Neoliberal Globalisation, London: Routledge.
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