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This International Symposium identifying the future of International Relations (IR) invited two prominent speakers Professor Amitav Acharya (American University), the President of the International Studies Association (ISA), and Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi (Kyoto University), Vice President of Japan Association of International Relations (JAIR). This symposium held in the Kinugasa Campus – Soshikan Hall, on Sunday, May 18, 2014, co-hosted by the Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR) and the Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization (R-GIRO) research program namely "Research Core for Peace with Ritsumeikan Interdisciplinary Studies."

Professor Amitav Acharya’s presentation, titled: “Global IR and Regional Worlds Beyond Sahibs and Munshis: A New Agenda for International Studies," proposed an agenda of the future IR called the Global IR, which transcend the debates between so-called Western and Non-Western IR. Subsequently, Professor Acharya identified six dimensions and six possible research agendas as the basis of the Global IR. In principle, Global IR is either mutual learning between Non-Western and Western IR or an inclusive, an equal, and a constructive dialog between them symbolized by the relations between Sahibs and Munshis in the past.

Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi provided a very systematic presentation regarding the development of IR in Japan as well as the prospect of constructing the so-called Japan IR (J-IR). In his presentation, titled: “Discipline of IR in Japan: past, present, and future agenda," professor Nakanishi elaborated the progress of IR in Japan and offered models and researches agendas for the making the J-IR. Although the J-IR has not established yet, considering the development of IR in Japan so far, there is an expectation that the J-IR might be the center of “Asian IR dialogue” in the future.

Approximately 75 participants came from various universities in Japan attended and enjoyed both presentations that were intellectually inspiring and stimulating.