COURSE DESCRIPTIONSTermSpring Semester 2021

Subject NameJapanese Politics

Course Title

Japanese Politics Re-visited

Credit2ClassThursday 5 (16:40-18:10)

Lecturer

Professor HASUMI JiroOffice

E-D-504, Faculty of Law Building

e-mailhasumi@law.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Outline【Aims】
This course is to debate critical issues in Japanese politics and its contemporary public policies.
The key questions of this course will be: (1) how Japan has constructed a stable democracy inEast Asia and the third largest economy in the world, and (2) what are the challenges with itsdemocracy and civil society. This is a joint class with a Politics Seminar of the Undergraduate
School of Law. You can, therefore, have a chance to listen to voices of a Japanese student.
【Objectives】
Students taking this course are expected:
To acquire knowledge and understanding of key issues in contemporary Japanese politics
and public policy.



To be able to critically examine major debates on Japanese politics.

To make clear presentation and write an academic essay on a topic relevant to Japanesepolitics.

Course Structure※The details will be explained in the first session. It is, therefore, expected that the students
who would like to take this course attend the first session on Thursday 8th April, at which they
will be provided the reading list for this course.
※This course proceeds parallel to the JTW course of “Contemporary Japanese Politics,” which
is a lecture-based course, whilst this course is discussion-oriented. The students taking thiscourse are strongly recommended to take this JTW course.
【Class Format】
This course is offered online via Zoom. All materials including Zoom meeting information
are provided via university’s e-learning system Moodle:
https://moodle.s.kyushu-u.ac.jp/?lang=en
This course is “live” class only, with no recording.
Exchange students are also welcome.

【Contents】
1. Introduction
2. Modern Political History
3. The Constitution
4. Prime Minister, Diet and Bureaucracy
5. Election and Participation
6. Local Government and Civil Society
7. Political Ideology
8. Political Culture
9. Media and Politics
10. Economic Policy and Welfare Policy
11. Immigration Policy
12. Defence Policy
13. Energy and Environmental Policy
14. International Relations
15. Summary【Suggested Readings】
 The following books are recommended for those who are not familiar with Japanese Politics:
Goto-Jones, C. (2009) Modern Japan: Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford
University Press.

McCargo, D. (2012) Contemporary Japan, 3rd edition, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Kingston, J. (2013) Contemporary Japan: History, Politics, and Social Change since the1980s, 2nd edition, Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
 Also consult the followings for further primary readings:
Jansen, M.B. (2002) The Making of Modern Japan, new edition., Cambridge (MA):Harvard University Press.

Schwartz, F, Pharr, S.J. (2003) The State of Civil Society in Japan, Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.

Stockwin, J.A.A. (2008) Governing Japan: Divided Politics in a Resurgent Economy, 4thed., Malden (MA): Wiley-Blackwell.

Heyes, L.D. (2009) Introduction to Japanese Politics, 5th edition, Armonk (NY): M. E.
Sharpe.

Gaunder, A., (2011) The Routledge Handbook of Japanese Politics, Abingdon: Routledge.

Gordon, A. (2013) A Modern History of Japan, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Shinoda, T. (2013) Contemporary Japanese Politics: Institutional Changes and Power

Shifts, New York: Columbia University Press.
Babb, J.D. (ed.) (2014) The SAGE Handbook of Modern Japanese Studies, London: Sage.

Kingston, J. (ed.) (2014) Critical Issues in Contemporary Japan, Abingdon: Routledge.

Gaunder, A. (2017) Japanese Politics and Government, Routledge.

Assessment(a) Participation and Presentation: 50%(b) Essay: 50%

TermCourse
Subject Name
Course Title
CreditLecturer

Spring 2021 (Semester Length)
Elective for YLP, LL.M., JDS, BiP and CSPA
Law and Development (A)(A.L.) for LL.M.
Security Policy for CSPA
Borders and Development in Asia
2Edward Boyle

Outline[COURSE GOALS]
To introduce the complexity of contemporary border spaces and their value for thinking
about the politics of security, development and international relations in an Asian age.
[AIMS]
This course shall introduce border studies in an Asian context. It shall help explain whyborders have retained their significance in a globalized world, and the utility of analyzing
them from an interdisciplinary perspective. This course will provide a range of perspectives
on the development and role of borders in contemporary Asia.
[OBJECTIVES]
This course shall:(1) offer a theoretical background to the development of border studies as a distinct
interdisciplinary field of study;(2) introduce a range of empirical examples of border phenomenon from across Asia; and(3) provide a series of analytical lenses with which to further your own research.
Class Format for Spring 2021

This course will be conducted online using ZOOM. All class materials, including ZOOM
meeting information, will be distributed via Moodle (the online course system of theuniversity).
If you have difficulties participating in a ZOOM class "live," due to the time difference orsome technical difficulties, then please discuss this with the lecturer.
Exchange students are also welcome.
Course Structure

Further details, and a reading list, will be given in the first session on Wednesday 7th April. Itis expected that students intending to take the course will attend this first session.
[RECOMMENDED READING]
 Alexander Diener & Joshua Hagen (2012) Borders: a very short introduction, New York:
Oxford University Press (e-book available: Kyushu University Library website).
 Akihiro Iwashita (2016) Japan’s Border Issues: Pitfalls and Prospects, Abingdon:
Routledge.

Assessment

Class Attendance: 30%
Participation & Presentations: 30%
Essay: 40%
Everyone is expected to come to each class having read the compulsory reading, as well as
any additional readings they have been assigned. Many of the classes involve presentations
and group discussions; some presentations will be collaborative, which will require you tocoordinate your responsibilities outside of class.
One compulsory research essay that should demonstrate an engagement with thetheoretical and practical content of this course. The essay is not required to be on Asia.

English Proficiency*Note that for students not currently enrolled on an international program, this course
requires sufficient English proficiency equivalent to about 92 pts. (Internet-based) in TOEFL.

TermCourse

Subject Name
Course Title
CreditLecturer

Spring 2021 Quarter 3
Elective for YLP, LL.M., JDS, BiP and CSPA.
This course is open for the European Union Studies Diploma Programmes(EU-DPs).
Law & Governance (B) (A.L.) for LL.M.
Energy and Environmental Policy for CSPA
Global Environmental Governance2Robert Lindner

OutlineThis course will introduce students to today’s most pressing global environmental challenges. Itis highly recommended as a supplement to International Relations and Global Governance (Fall2020, Quarter 1). The course is designed as an interactive lecture series, where students areexpected to actively contribute to the class discussions, present case studies and practice togive constructive feedback.
The course will begin by discussing one of the most intractable environmental problems intoday’s world, that of climate change and the necessary transformation of global energy
systems. Students will be introduced to the historical trajectories that led to the current
climate crisis and the international negotiations to regulate and mitigate greenhouse gases.
They will also learn about the challenges of energy system transitions around the world, thecomplexities of climate change negotiations, and the multiple obstacles to formulating afeasible national climate change strategy.

In the remainder of the course, students will be asked to critically examine several othertransboundary environmental issues, such as the depletion of natural resources, ambient airpollution, waste, or the loss of biodiversity. They will not only explore the origins and thescale of the problems, but also learn about actor coalitions, international regimes andproposed solutions to address these issues.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Students taking this class are required to attend the first session, in which class instructions
and assignments will be distributed.
Class Format for Spring 2021

This course will be conducted “hybrid” style using ZOOM. All class materials, including
ZOOM meeting information, will be distributed via Moodle (the online course system of theuniversity).
This class is “live” class only, with no recording
Exchange students are also welcome.

Course Structure

Introduction
S1: Environmental policy making in the Anthropocene

The Energy & Climate Nexus
S2: World energy outlook
S3: Geopolitics, energy security and governance

Energy System Transitions
S4: Technology options
S5: Public policy and energy economics
S6: Energy poverty and rural electrification

Climate Change
S7: The international climate regime
S8: Complex multilevel governance
S9: Alternative approaches 1
S10: Alternative approaches 2

Transboundary Environmental Issues
S11: Population growth and resource depletion
S12: Global biodiversity: Genetic resources, species and ecosystems
S13: Air pollution and waste
S14: Agriculture and fresh water
S15: Marine protection: Oceans and fisheries

Course Readings
Some sessions have required readings that have to be completed by the dates they areassigned, and students are expected to actively contribute to class discussions based on thematerial provided. Course materials will be uploaded on the program website or distributedin class. Although there is no required textbook for this course, students are strongly
encouraged to study one or more of the suggested readings below (available at the Kyushu
University Central Library):••••

Axelrod, R. S., & VanDeveer, S. D. (Eds.). (2014). The global environment: institutions, law,and policy. CQ Press.
Caldwell, L. K., & Weiland, P. S. (1996). International environmental policy: from thetwentieth to the twenty-first century. Duke University Press.
Goldthau, A. (Ed.) (2013). The handbook of global energy policy. Chichester:
Wiley-Blackwell.
Lesage, D., Van de Graaf, T., & Westphal, K. (2010). Global energy governance in a
multipolar world. Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate.

Assessment

Students will be assessed according to the following criteria:• Attendance and active class participation (20%)• Presentation & peer-review (80%)
Or:• Media report & essay (80%)

English Proficiency*Note that for students not currently enrolled on an international program, this course
requires sufficient English proficiency equivalent to about 92 pts. (Internet-based) in TOEFL.

International Relations and Human Rights
International Relations and Human Rights
Spring 2021

Class Time: Wednesday 10:30-12:00
Class Structure: Online
Credits: 2
Semester: Second (Spring and Summer Quarter)
Instructor: Toru Oga, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law
Office: East-2-404Office Hours: By appointment
Contact: toga@law.kyushu-u.ac.jp
1. Course overview
This course is a basic introduction to global governance and human rights and will discusstheories and practices in human rights governance in the realm of international andtransnational relations. This semester’s course will especially focus on the governance ofbusiness and human rights and how global governance has been developed for promoting
human rights in business practice, such as the United Nations’ Global Compact andGuiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Moreover, this course criticallyexamines a state’s duty to protect human rights and the concept of corporate social
responsibility to respect human rights.
2. Why study human rights?
1) Traditional human rights protection became institutionalized during the 19th and firsthalf of the 20th century as sovereign states acted to respect, protect, and fulfil them.
Institutions of international human rights were established later, in the second half ofthe 20th century, under the UN banner and related organizations. These bodies aim toprotect human rights through domestic legal frameworks that are, or are expected to be,consistent with international standards based on the UN Charter, international humanrights treaties, and monitoring mechanisms for international human rights.
2) However, it is not easy to maintain, manage, or monitor a universal human rights
system because the substantial authority for protecting such rights lies with sovereign
nations and national law. As such, interest adjustments and framework development by
regimes and governments have been achieved through international relations.
3) In other words, human rights protection requires a multi-dimensional problem-solving
framework involving both state and non-state corporations, NGOs, NPOs, and CSOs,
alongside organizations within the international community without a world1

government. International human rights governance therefore includes multi-faceted
solutions between state and non-state parties, as well as principles, norms, rules, anddecision-making procedures which are maintained, managed, and monitored
co-operatively.
4) Human rights research in the English-speaking world is an interdisciplinary field. The
concept of human rights can be viewed in a narrow legal sense and in a much broader
sense of a societal phenomenon or policy explored through social science
methodologies from political science, economics, business administration, education,sociology, or anthropology. In this seminar, we will look at both perspectives anddiscuss human rights research in light of political science and international politics. In
particular, we will examine international relations theory in terms of how human rights
can be positioned in interstate diplomatic relations and how humanitarian governancefunctions in international organizations such as the UN. Students will also consider theviewpoints of international organizations and transnational relations on how corporate,
civil, and human rights issues are manifested and solved, especially in cross-borderactivities.
3. Textbook
Kiyoteru Tsutsui, Alwyn Lim (eds.) Corporate Social Responsibility in a Globalizing
World (Cambridge: Cambridge U.P., 2015)
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/corporate-social-responsibility-in-a-globalizingworld/6BCCD7CE38E5D5B7978F2C35E5D1B695
You get free access to Chapter 1.

4. Recommended Readings
Theories of Global Governance-Andreas Hasenclever, Peter Mayer, and Volker Rittberger, Theories ofInternational Regimes (Cambridge: Cambridge U.P., 1997)-Oran Young, Governance in World Affairs (Ithaca: Cornell U.P., 1999)
Michael Barnett and Raymond Duvall, Power in Global Governance (Cambridge:Cambridge U.P., 2010)

Business and Human Rights-John G. Ruggie, Just Business: Multinational Corporations and Human Rights(New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013)-Dorothée Baumann-Pauly and Justine Nolan (eds.) Business and Human Rights:
From Principle to Practice (London: Routledge, 2016)
2

Human Rights Governance-Jack Donnelly, Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice (Ithaca: Cornell
U.P., 2013)-

David Forsythe, Human Rights in International Relations (Cambridge: CambridgeU.P., 2017)-Stephen Hopgood, Jack Snyder, and Leslie Vinjamuri, Human Rights Futures(Cambridge: Cambridge U.P., 2017)

5. Class schedule
For detailed course schedule, TBA
1. The social regulation of the economy in the global context
2. Legitimating the transnational corporation in a stateless world society
3. Corporate social responsibility and the evolving standards regime: regulatory andpolitical dynamics
4. Explaining the rise of national corporate social responsibility: the role of global
frameworks, world culture and corporate interests
5. Corporations, conflict minerals and corporate social responsibility
6. The institutionalization of supply chain corporate social responsibility: field formationin comparative context
7. Sustainability discourse and capitalist variety: a comparative institutional analysis
8. Why firms participate in the global corporate social responsibility initiatives,
2000–2010
9. Why do companies join the United Nations Global Compact? The case of Japanesesignatories
10. Global corporate resistance to public pressures: corporate stakeholder mobilization in
the United States, Norway, Germany and France
11. Is greenness in the eye of the beholder? Corporate social responsibility frameworks andthe environmental performance of US firms
12. The mobility of industries and the limits of corporate social responsibility: labor codesof conduct in Indonesian factories
13. Good firms, good targets: the relationship among corporate social responsibility,reputation, and activist targeting
14. Conclusion. Corporate social responsibility as social regulation
6. Grading
Attendance and term paper (3-4,000 words) submitted at the end of semester.

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