Dr. Miller is a Senior Visiting Fellow with the Japan Institute of International Affairs. Dr. Hardy-Chartrand is a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Canada. Both scholars are experts in the field of international affairs in the Asia Pacific. During this international workshop they have, in a spirit of team-work, superbly demonstrated the complex nature of politics and diplomacy in this region.

What was apparent at the very beginning of this lecture was the key role played by Washington. Nonetheless, the audience was cautioned not to neglect or downplay other regional actors and the interaction between their foreign policies – particularly that of Beijing, but also of middle-powers. The latter, so it was underlined, possess high potential with regards to the escalation and mediation of regional tension.

A major segment of the talk was dedicated to the North Korean nuclear and missile crisis. Given Washington’s current DPRK-policy’s focus of strategic pressure coupled with conditional willingness to negotiate, Dr. Miller and Dr. Hardy-Chartrand consider Trump’s North Korea policy not to be fundamentally different from that of the Obama-administration. Considering the North’s recent advances in its development of its ICBM-capability, pressure to accommodate the alliances between the USA, South Korea and Japan, on the one hand, and the role of China, on the other hand, is said to be rising. It remains to be seen to what extent a multilaterally coordinated response can be conjured, given Beijing’s recent support of UNSC Resolutions vis-à-vis North Korea while, overall, refusing to pressure Pyongyang to its fullest. As such, possible future developments in US-ROK and US-Japan relations with regards to the North Korean nuclear and missile crisis have been discussed.

During this workshop, Dr. Miller and Dr. Hardy-Chartrand outlined the overall complexity and multitude of problems in the region. Particular emphasis was put on the frequently neglected interconnectedness between the DPRK crisis, the territorial disputes in the East- and South China Seas, as well as Trump’s economic and military Asia Pacific, or rather, Indo-Pacific policies. Thereby, the fragility of relations and the danger of disputes of one matter transgressing into another were elucidated.

Lastly, attention was given to the role of Canada with regards to international problems in the Asia Pacific. Given its relatively untainted history, Canada was described by the two guest speakers to possess considerable soft power which might enable it to play a key mediating role in the region. Nonetheless, its apparently omnipresent economic interests are in danger of being perceived as a threat by some regional states which might render its potential as an independent mediator increasingly difficult.

Overall, this international workshop was a great educational enrichment for the audience. Dr. Miller and Dr. Hardy-Chartrand managed to introduce, elaborate, and simplify the complex web of regional diplomatic disputes and relations – a particularly difficult endeavor, given the time constraints of one single period.

IR Office will be closed from 2017 Dec 27 to 2018 Jan-4.

Office support will be re-started after Jan 5th 2018.

Thank you so much for your understanding.

Happy Holidays.

On November 15, 2017, the Graduate School of International Relations organized a special lecture om “Transition and Structure of Japanese ODA” by H.E. Ambassador Mr.Shigersu Nakamura.

 Koji Enomoto is a PhD candidate in International Relations at the Hitotsubashi University. Previously, he worked as an intern at the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (CPDNP), Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) as well as a special advisor for Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) issues at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna and a researcher at the Office of Atomic Energy Policy Secretariat of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC). He has also served as a research fellow of the Japan-U.S. Partnership Program at the Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS), Tokyo. He specializes in international relations and is mainly focusing on international security including nuclear arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. His doctoral dissertation focuses on international norms against nuclear testing and the CTBT. He received his B.A. in law from Kansai University and his M.A. in international relations from International Christian University. He is a member of the executive board of the International Student and Young Pugwash (ISYP).  

 At the GSIR Young Scholars Session, Mr. Koji Enomoto shared his doctoral research entitled ‘International Norms against Nuclear Testing’. His presentation did not only cover the discussion on his research analysis but also the design of the doctoral research.

 Mr. Enomoto’s research focused on why/how the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) works. He opted India, Pakistan, and North Korea as his research case studies. In order to find the answer, Mr. Koji Enomoto employed historical analysis approach by analysing the history of the concept of nuclear-test-ban from 1950s and the process of CTBT negotiation in 1990s. He used official documents, publication, and interviews to get the sources for his research. For the theoretical approach, Mr. Enomoto utilized ‘norm cascade / lifecycle’ model.

 Mr. Enomoto also explained the process in choosing his dissertation theme as well as the research methodology. Furthermore, he gave some suggestions on how he does his research, including how to collect materials and find connections for interview. Understanding the previous studies is also crucial as it strengthens the contribution of our research. Collecting resources from official documents became paramount for his research as those materials help him to reinforce the research argument. In addition, he recommended to give presentations at academic societies, if possible, in order to gain feedbacks from various scholars. This session provided great opportunities for the graduate students of Ritsumeikan University to learn how to design their research. 

On 5^th of October, 2017 in research Training Course Dr Sato Marie, JSPS research fellow delivered presentation of her research on The Role of Islamic NGOs in Jordan .

She started her presentation by giving the detailed introduction of her study including the area of concern which focused on Jorden, Islamic politics, Charity, NGOs, in Jorden, issues of Urban sphere (City), mobility, migration and refugee in Jorden as well as relation between human behavior and environment geography. To conduct her research she applies disciplinary approach, field Work, and primary source analyze.

While introducing her research she explain about Jorden its politics, geographic area, population, language and religion , most of the population follow Muslim 97.2 % (predominantly Sunni) and 83.7% of total population lives in urban area .

Similarly she shortly explain about previous studies on this area, lake attention to NGOs and need to deal with the whole sector to analysis the current Islamic condition which led her to study on this research. 

She also highlighted condition of refugees in Islamic world and in Jordan .As 80% of total land is covered by desert in Jordan, so people from neighboring country   can move easily from their country to Jordan, so currently the population has been increasing by the refugee influx and city area has been expanding to south west. In this context she explained the activities of NGOs in the daily life of refugee in Jorden.

She also explained in detailed of relief activities in Badr and relief provider which are International humanitarian agency, Jordan Government and local organization including charitable society in host country at same time increase in Islamic NGOs.  NGOs has running in the manner of its norms and value of Islam they have been working as to support needy people, embedded Islamic values and as per their own priority area . Charity is based on Islam, and asylum as asylum is a right, duty, and a general. comprehensive form of protection .

Overall, Dr Sato Marie delivered comprehensive and detailed presentation about her research. As she covered Introduction of her research area, definition, previous studies, need to study or what is new and importance of her study.

We'd like to inform you about the application guideline for "Post-master's Research Student & Doctoral Research Student".

Application Period:  (Mon) Sep. 4, 2017 – (Mon.) Sep. 11, 2017

Application Form: AY2017  "Post-master's Research Student & Doctoral Research Student" Application Guidelines

 "Post-master's Research Student & Doctoral Research Student"  System is a system for graduates of our graduate schools to continue doing research at our facilities.
 Post-master's Research Student and Doctoral research student cannot receive research instruction from faculty.

 If you would like to apply, please submit application documents to IR office.
 Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

 Best regards,

On June 1, 2017, the Graduate School of International Relations organized a special lecture entitled "Politics and Security overseas Business of Chinese Companies" by Dr. Luke Patey, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies.
Dr. Patey, explained what kind of challenges Chinese companies are facing and how they are dealing with them referring to multiple examples in Africa, Latin America and Europe.

According to Dr. Patey, when Chinese companies encounter difficulties overseas, their reactions can be categorized into three: adapting to the situation; negotiating to accommodate the local needs; and limiting their overseas business.

In the Q and A session, lively discussions were exchanged among Dr. Pate some 35 graduate students and researchers attended on such topics as the relationship between the Chinese companies and local government and people, the strategy of the Chinese government, the relationship with the Chinese “One Belt, One Road” initiative, the relationship between private and public companies, the particularity as well as the generalizability of the cases referred in the lecture, and the situation of the countries accepting Chinese companies and investments.

On May 25, 2017, the Graduate School of International Relations hold a special lecture entitled "Reconsidering Soft Power in the Uncertain World" by Professor Gary Rawnsley from Aberystwyth University,UK which is famous for having the world's oldest international relations department .
Professor Rawnsley, after pointing out that the current ambiguous definition and measurement method of “Soft Power” is the cause of many problems, emphasized the importance of focusing on the impact, rather than output, of the “Soft Power”. In addition, he insisted that it is essential to analyze the aspect of power of the “Soft Power.”

The message of his lecture was quite clear, as he used a lot of concreate examples during his theoretical explanation. During the Q and A session following the lecture, participants, graduate students and faculty, actively discussed the nature of soft power and how to generate “Soft Power” both in Japan and UK.