Faculty

U.S. military bases located in over 50 countries have undergone periods of expansion and contraction. While the United States maintains them globally because they serve its interests, they can also impose negative impacts on host nations. 

What factors determine the establishment, maintenance, and withdrawal of bases? What role do bases play in international politics? What constitutes the “optimal solution” for the nature of these bases? I approach this issue from the multi-layered perspectives of strategy, diplomacy, and domestic politics.

Living in Kansai, you might not often feel the presence of U.S. military bases nearby. But just learning about the scale of U.S. bases worldwide gives you a surprise and raises questions. Starting with simple queries like “There is a U.S. base here? Why?” or “What do local people think about the bases?”, it is fascinating to explain these phenomena with theories of international relations and find your own answers.