Introduction to Political Methodology

Introduces majors to basic methodological concepts in political science, including theory, causality, inference and hypothesis testing. Course includes lab component using common statistical software packages.
 

International Politics

Problems of the world community and the role of the individual. Emphasis on the factors affecting international relations and the basic policies of selected national states.
 

Introduction to Political Science

Covering various fields of political science. Dealing with various methodologies and methods of learning in the discipline of political science. Analyzing basic concepts and main ideas of political science. Language of instruction differs by year.
 

History of Western Political Thought I

This course deals with the development of political thought from the ancient Greece and Rome through the Medieval Age.
 

History of Western Political Thought II

This course deals with the development of political thought in the modern age from Machiavelli to Hegel.
 

History of Western Political Thought III

Deals with late modern political philosophers, such as Marx, Weber and Arendt.
 

Political Culture

Analytical and comparative studies of various types of political culture and tradition including Japan.
 

Political Theory

Theorizing contemporary politics, democracy, the state, civil society, identity, and so forth. Emphasis on theories of political institutions, ideologies and types of behaviors.
 

History of Japanese Political Thought

Examination of the development of political ideas from the Meiji era to the present. Critical assessment of main political thinkers and events in moden Japan.
 

American Politics

This course will discuss the fundamental problems of power and liberty, the making of the Federal Constitution, federalism, separation of powers, political process, political parties, pressure groups, and public opinion, judicial review, and some current problems.
 

Comparative Politics

The main goal of this course is to examine relationship between state and society in the various political regimes. The main focus will be modernization and democratization processes. Language of instruction differs by year.
 

Japanese Politics

This course aims at exploring political as well as historical, sociological, economic, and cultural aspects of the Japanese state and society.
 

Politics in Southeast Asia

Study of politics in Southeast Asia. Its historical evolution and current situation are analyzed in relation with socioeconomic change and international environment.
 

Public Opinion

Course examines role of public opinion in domestic and international affairs.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Advanced Studies in Political Science I

This course is an advanced seminar on selected topics in the history of political thought and political theory. Topics may vary each year. They may include, for instance, the theories of civil society, the contemporary meaning of social contract theory, the separation of church and the state, the revitalization of political philosophy, the history of theories on liberty, and the historical development of ideas on peace.
 

Advanced Studies in Political Science II

This course discusses important issues, such as social justice, freedom, equality, power, democracy, nationalism, and multiculturalism, thereby reflecting on new problems and tasks for political theory.
 

Advanced Studies in Political Science III

This course aims to analyze how gender interacts with political and policy processes in Japan. It provides an overview of gender issues in Japanese society, and examines why and how gender issues are integrated into various processes, including voting behavior, party politics, parliamentary politics, and bureaucratic politics.
 

Advanced Studies in Political Methodology

Course covers advanced issues in political methodology, with a focus on designing research. Topics include causality, inference and the use of case studies. Recommended to take after INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL METHODOLOGY.
 

Public Economics

Public economics analyzes the economic activity involving the government and the public sector. This course will deal with various aspects of government administration or public finance, and address such question as why government is needed, why taxes are imposed, the role of public investment, and questions relating to the decentralization of power.
 

Global Justice

This course aims at theoretical and empirical considerations on the principles of social justice appropriate for the globalized world. Focusing on various issues of inequality including the global gap in wealth, we will study theories of global justice and reflect on the applicability of them to concrete problems.
 

International Political Economy

The course will deal with issues of international political economy such as trade, finance, and capital movement from both theoretical and empirical viewpoints.
 

Politics and International Relations in Africa

Analysis of domestic politics, social structure and international relations in Africa.
 

Politics and International Relations in China

The course analyzes contemporary Chinese politics and international relations, by paying attention to various factors such as historical background, economic and socio-cultural dynamics.
 

Politics and International Relations in Europe

This is an advanced course on European Union Studies. Topics include the enlargement, external relations, and decision-making processes of the EU.
 

Politics and International Relations in Korea

Analyzes domestic politics of North and South Korea. Also examines international relations concerning the division and future unification of of two Koreas.
 

Politics and International Relations in Latin America

Analyzes contemporary Latin American politics and international relations.
 

Politics and International Relations in Russia

This course mainly covers the history, the recent political and economic conversion, and external relations of Russia. This course also deals with the other New Independent States (NIS).
 

Politics and International Relations in the Middle East

Study of domestic politics, social structure and international relations in the Middle East. Topics include politics of islam, the Palestinian question and politics of petroleum.
 

Politics and International Relations in South Asia

This course is designed to introduce students to the politics, history and international relations of modern South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka). Particular emphasis will be placed on communal (i.e. ethno-religious) conflict. Topics will include colonialism and the independence struggle, partition, development, communalism and secularism and the international politics of South Asia since independence.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Advanced Studies in International Security

This course is an advanced seminar in international security studies. Topics include traditional and new security threats, such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and failed states.
 

Advanced Studies in European History and European Studies

Advanced seminar on international history in Europe during the inter-war period and the Cold War.
 

Advanced Studies in Human Security

This course seeks to critically evaluate some of the tensions which lie at the ¡Ævital core¡Ç of Human Security in an age of globalization. Students will be introduced to theoretical debates about globalization and its impact on human identity and security. Next, ¡Ænarrow¡Ç and ¡Æbroad¡Ç approaches to Human Security will be outlined and, finally students will be introduced to the central features of a ¡ÆCritical Human Security Perspective¡Ç.
 

Advanced Studies in International Relations

Advanced exploration and analysis of selected topics in international relations.
 

Advanced Studies in International Relations Methodology

Course covers advanced issues and methods involved in research in international relations.
 

Constitutional Law I

This course focuses on the main issues of the Constitution in the field of human rights and pacifism principle, in line with the case laws and academic theories. By taking together with CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II, students will have better understanding of the relationship of pacifism, democracy and constitutionalism.
 

International Organization

The bases of international organization, its historical development from the international public unions of the 19th century to the United Nations and contemporary patterns of international organizations.
 

Constitutional Law II

This course focuses on the major issues of the constitutional frame of governance, such as National Diet, Cabinet, Courts, Local Government, and Constitutional Amendment, in line with the case laws and academic theories. Strongly recommended to take along with CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I.
 

Law and Society

This course clarifies the various aspects of the transformation of contemporary Japanese law and society by picking up major topics of general theory of sociology of law, law interpretation and sociology of law, state law and customary law, court functioning, law consciousness, market economics and law, and peculiarity and universality of Japanese law.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Peace and Human Rights

The course provides students with a conceptual foundation for the study¡¡of international peace and human rights. It examines the theory and¡¡practice in the field.
 

Problems of Ethics I

This class attempts to examine various issues in Chinese ethics through a survey of classical Chinese philosophers and their works, as well as interpretation of those works through the ages.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Problems of Ethics II

This class attempts to examine various issues in Chinese ethics through a survey of classical Chinese philosophers and their works, as well as interpretation of those works through the ages.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Local Governance

Analyzing the present situation of local governance in Japan in terms of history, institution, policy, personnel, facility and finance, based on the understanding of the idea of local self-government, principle of subsidiarity or decentralization, Major focus will be on the problem solving processes through the collaboration between local government, citizens, NPOs and companies.
 

Policy Process and Political Institutions

Analyzing the policy processes of the cycle of planning, decision, implementation and evaluation, in relation with political actors and institutions. In addition to the understanding of the present situation, the course will prospect the future institutional design and the change in the relationship between actors.
 

Public Administration

Analyzing the structure and function of modern public administration, the functions and dysfunctions of bureaucracy, and the democratic control of civil service system. Main focus will be on the recent trends of administrative reforms, including politics-administration relationship, civil service reform, privatization, NPM, and administrative accountability.
 

International Public Policy

Examines theoretical and practical issues in international public policy for both intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations in the changing context of globalization. Language of instruction differs by year.
 

Social Psychology

Origin, development and methodology of the different approaches to the study of human social behavior. The processes of social behavior, social attitudes, patterns of interpersonal relationships, psychological structure and the functions of various groups.
 

International Migration and Ethnicity

This course will examine various aspects (i.e. ethnicity, race relations, gender, development, policies, etc.) of international migration and ethnicity. While acquiring major theories and analytical approaches, it will explore the ways in which we should tackle the problems in Japan as well as in the global society.
 

Political Sociology

Through this course, students learn how social characteristics of a country are interrelated with its political features. More specifically, this course addresses issues such as concepts and theories of political sociology, nationalism, political participation, and political beliefs.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Senior Thesis

Senior students, under the guidance of an advisor, will select a subject related to their major and prepare a senior thesis. The final product should represent the efforts of one year of sustained and rigorous thinking, research, and writing. Required of all students in their senior year.