Master’s Programs
The International Politics major is comprised of a Security Program and a Global Governance Program. The department also offers many principal courses on regional studies and the history of foreign policy, but these are subjects related to both security and global governance. The International Politics major is for people who aspire to be researchers in international politics fields and for graduate students who wish to continue on to a path with practical applications in international organizations or government agencies. In this department, students are systematically prepared from the basics to their fields of expertise. The school also provides courses taught by active professionals. These programs have produced many international politics researchers, area or regional studies researchers, and professionals in the field. We especially encourage working adults to enroll for career improvement or to return to academia. We aim to help active professionals return to international political theory and policy as well as event analysis methodology to improve their careers, and at the same time contribute to their reflections on the practical point of view in international politics.
Security Program
The Security Program exclusively studies “security” as the main subject of research in war, peace, and security issues within the study of international politics. In addition to conventional security issues such as the causes of victory in war, the balance of power, alliance-related issues, and crisis management, we examine Japanese politics and security, non-traditional and new areas of security issues, civil war, peace activities, and other global military security issues through theory, proof, and policy. Systematic courses are prepared and tailored to researchers and professionals, respectively.
Global Governance Program
The Global Governance Program seeks to grasp issues related to inter-state cooperation and systems, market and state relations, and international order, expanding beyond the traditional framework of international politics centered on sovereignty. Areas of expertise include international political economics, which studies the relationship between the market and the state in terms of trade and finance; systems and issues in preserving the global commons of the natural environment; and international cooperation, international organizations, and public policy. This program opens doors not only for researchers, but also for those who wish to engage in practical work at international organizations and NGOs.
(Master’s Program Colloquium)
This colloquium is held for international politics majors in the summer of the second year of the program. The purpose of the colloquium is to have students present the research they are working on to the instructors and other graduate students and receive advice before submitting it to the thesis or research review.
Degree Requirements
To complete the master’s program, students must attend the program for at least two years, obtain the required credits, receive necessary research guidance, earn certification in one foreign language, review their master’s thesis or special topics research results, and pass a final examination. Completion methods include (1) “Master Thesis Research” and (2) “Topical Studies.” The completion requirements differ for each method. For “Master Thesis Research,” the student must complete a master’s thesis under the guidance of their research advisor and pass a review of that thesis. For “Topical Studies,” the student must report the results of their topical study and pass a review of that study.
Credits Required for the Degree
(1) Master Thesis Research
Completion requires 30 credits, distributed as follows. Mandatory courses: “Seminar I” (placed in Year 2), 2 credits; “Seminar II,” 6 credits. Selected mandatory courses: 12 credits from Group A or B. Elective courses: 10 credits from Groups A~C.
| Mandatory | Year 2 curriculum | “Seminar I” | 2 credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Seminar II” | 6 credits | ||
| Selected Mandatory | 12 credits from Group A or B | ||
| Electives | Group A subjects | 10 more credits | |
| Group B subjects | |||
| Group C subjects | |||
| Total | 30 credits | ||
(2) Topical Studies
Completion requires 38 credits, distributed as follows. Mandatory courses: “Seminar I” (placed in Year 2), 2 credits; “Seminar II,” 6 credits. Selected mandatory courses: 18 credits from Group A or B; elective courses: 12 credits from Groups A~C.
| Mandatory | Year 2 curriculum | “Seminar I” | 2 credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Seminar II” | 6 credits | ||
| Selected Mandatory | 18 credits from Group A or B | ||
| Electives | Group A subjects | 12 more credits | |
| Group B subjects | |||
| Group C subjects | |||
| Total | 38 credits | ||
Past Research Topics
Master’s Theses
- 2017
-
- American Press and Public Opinion of the 2013 Syrian Crisis: Media Framing under Partisan Polarization
- Changes in the Aquino Administration’s South China Sea Policy and the Impact of Domestic Factors: Analysis of Fishing and Energy Issues
- Origins of the Promotion of Self-Defense Forces Overseas Dispatching, and United Nations Diplomacy, 1955-1958: Focus on the 1st Division of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Diplomatic Mission
- Comparative Study of US Military Base Problems in Japan: Differing Attitudes of Local Governments
- Effects of Islamic Factors on Water Governance in Arab Nations: Focus on Water Governance in Modern Sudan
- NGO and Local Government Support Policies for Youth with Immigrant Backgrounds in Austria: Youth Support Activities in Salzburg
- “Leftist Chinese Youth” in Chinese Society: Awareness of Patriotism and Nationalism Among Young People
- 2016
-
- The Emperor’s Visit to China in 1992 and Japan-US Relations: Japan-US Diplomatic Cooperation to Avoid Chinese Isolation
- China’s UN PKO Policy: Focus on the Use of Force in UN PKO
- Japan in the Interwar Period and the Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts
- “World Bank Recovery Assistance for Afghanistan: From the Perspective of Rebellion”
- Chinese Arms Expansion Leading to the Promotion of Network-Building in the Japan-US Alliance
- Changes in Japanese-Soviet Influence in the Far East in the 1970s: Strategic Culture and Smart Power
- 2015
-
- Why the United Kingdom Failed to Apply Its Classic Anti-Rebellion Principles in the Aden Crisis (1962-67)
- Modern French Politics and Catholics: The Ideals and Realities of Laïcité
- Ukrainian Strategic Culture: Focus on the Structural Limits of European Integration Policy and Relations with China
- The Chinese Communist Party’s Anti-American Attitude Formation Course and International Situation Awareness: Reflecting on the Greek Situation and Anticipating Civil War
- Why China Was Unable to Quickly End the Korean War: Focus on Changes in China’s War Objectives
- Non-Recognition Obligations in State Responsibility Laws: Focus on the Theoretical Possibility of Denying Sovereignty Exemption
- From “Patriotism Education” to “China’s Dream”: In Search of the Orthodoxy of the Chinese Communist Party
- Establishing UK-USA Agreement: The History of UK-US SIGNT Cooperation
- A Study of the Colonization Policy Studies of Christian Intellectuals: Toward the Integration of the Divided Images of Tadao Yanaihara
- Cross-Border Ethnicity: A Case Study of Yunnan Province and the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region
- Environmental Regulations and Economic Development: A Study of Regional Cooperation on Chemical Substance Regulation in Southeast Asia Regarding EU Chemical Substance Regulation Program REACH
- Understanding Coordination Between the Ghanaian Government and Farmers in Implementing Climate Change Policy
- Food Security in the US: A Study on the Causal Relationship Between Obesity and SNAP
- 2014
-
- India and the G4: Efforts Toward Becoming a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council
- Implications of Capacity-Building Support in Security Policy Based on Aspects of Defense Diplomacy
- The Oslo Process and Norm Cascades: Confrontation between the Norm Entrepreneur and the Norm Guardian
- Development of the Genocide Treaty through International Court of Justice Precedents: On the “Universality of Treaties” and the “Universality of Responsibility”
- Two-Level Games and Policy Networks: A Comparative Study of MFA Concluding Negotiations and Uruguay Round Fiber Negotiations
- The Limits of Terrorism: Why Chechnya Could Not Achieve Independence in the Chechnya Conflict
- 2013
-
- Conditions for Establishing a Comprehensive Approach: A Study of UK Peace Support Activities in Afghanistan
- Mediation in Intractable Conflicts: Conditions for Successful Mediation
- “Strategic Distrust” between the US and China and the Limits of China’s Influence on North Korea: China’s Concerns over US Containment and China-North Korea Relations
- Comparison of Nuclear Policy-Making Processes in Japan and Germany: Diversity of Actors
- 2012
-
- Blair’s Iraq War: The British-American “Special Relationship” and Maintaining International Influence
- Interactivity in US-led Multilateral Military Campaign Participation: An Analysis of the US and Australia from the Perspective of Leader-Follower Relationships
- “Independence of Ministries and Agencies in US Peace Support Activities: Local Issues and Efforts of the Departments of Justice and Defense in Local Police Reorganizations”
- The Bandung Conference and Japan-China Relations in the 1950s
- Security and Defense Policies of the British Labour Party in the Opposition Party, 1983-92: On Commitments to Unilateral Nuclear Abandonment
- Cyberspace and Security
- Can Classical Realism and Constructivism be Integrated? Focus on Hans Morgenthau’s International Political Theory
- How Refugee and Immigration Acceptance Limits are Justified: A Case Study of Australia
- Toward a Regionally Distributed Electricity System
- Applying the Cluster Approach to International Humanitarian Assistance for Natural Disasters Led by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Analysis of the Impact on Coordination Mechanisms and Military-Civilian Cooperation
- 2011
-
- The Role of and Challenges in Media Support in Peacebuilding
- A Historical Study of British Diplomacy Toward the Spanish Civil War
- WHO and CBD Intersections on Viruses: Starting with the Refusal to Provide Bird Flu Virus in Indonesian Islands
- Development of Independent Innovation Policies in China
- New Perspectives for Overcoming Pacta tertiis Regulations: On League of Nations and United Nations Enforcement Measures for Non-Member States
- Offense and Defense in “One China”: Reconciliation of the Nationalist and Communist Parties under a Democratic Party Administration
- The Legality of “Economic Sanctions” by Non-Victim Countries: Their Potential Justification as Countermeasures
- Current Challenges in Energy Security: Focus on Lithuania’s Nuclear Repossession Plan
- Post-War Processing and International Cooperation: Focus on Japan-US Relations Concerning Interests in Former German South Sea Islands and Submarine Cables
- Post-Cold War Australian Peace Cooperation Activities: East Timor and Multilateral Support
- Building a Political Economy on Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait and the Establishment of ECFA
- Hamas as a Political Actor in Palestine: Struggling with Fatah
- Almer’s NATO Détente Policy and Belgian Diplomacy: Why Almer Showed Initiative in NATO’s Détente Policy
- 2010
-
- Kiichi Miyazawa’s Perception of and Policy Toward China: Seeking Coexistence with China
- The Formation and Character of Maritime Order in the Post-Cold War World
- A Study on Environmental Regulation Factors in Deindustrialization
- Progress and Challenges in Joint Defense in the Japan-US Alliance
- Cultural and Social Dialogues for Integration: A Study on the European-Mediterranean Partnership
- US Involvement in Indo-Pakistani Conflicts
- New Trends in ICJ Stopgap Measures
Topical Studies
- 2017
-
- Are the Senkaku Islands, Takeshima, and Okinotorishima “Rocks” or “Islands”? A Study Based on International Arbitrations Concerning the South China Sea
- Why Was the UK Able to End the Falklands War in Its Early Stages? War Leadership Necessary for Ending a War
- Taiwanese Identity: An Analysis of Awareness Surveys
- Social Media and the American Presidency: Comparing the Twitter Accounts of Barack Obama and Donald Trump
- Changes in China’s Aid Policies in Southeast Asia: Case Studies in Cambodia and the Philippines
- 2016
-
- Chinese-American Political Participation in U.S. Election: How Chinese-American Organizations Help Politicians Win Elections
- 2015
-
- Verifying the Utility of the Norm Acceptance Spiral Model: A Study of the Human Rights Norm Movement in El Salvador
- A Study on the Success Factors of Liberal Peacebuilding in Relation to the Spoiler Problem: Case Studies in Sierra Leone and Liberia
- 2014
-
- German-Soviet Relations and the Start of the Japan-US War
- 2013
-
- Intractable Conflict and Peacebuilding: A Case Study of the Israel-Palestine Conflict
- The International Community’s Responsibility for National Reconstruction After Application of the “Responsibility to Protect”
- 1. Chinese Media Diplomacy from the Perspective of CCTV’s International Exchange History; 2. Chinese Cultural Diplomacy and Public Diplomacy
- A Study on Asylum Country Establishment through Refugee Development Aid as a Permanent Solution to the Refugee Problem: A Case Study of the Zambia Initiative
- 2012
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- Japan’s Latin American FTA Policy
- The GARIOA Study Program as Public Diplomacy
- 2011
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- A Study on Maintaining Energy Security in Armenia Concerning Nuclear Power Issues
- 2010
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- A Case Study of Post-Cold War Australian Foreign Policy
- European Economic and Monetary Integration Led by the German and French “Engine”: German Compromise through “Unplanned” Unification
- A Study of the 1998 Japan-US Airline Agreement Revision: Beyond Right Japan-US Conflict and Agreement
Doctoral Program
The doctoral program is for those who wish to concentrate on their research at this graduate school after having completed the master’s program. The doctoral program is a more advanced and specialized program, primarily for developing researchers. Those selected as PhD candidates will select concrete research data that is important for understanding modern international politics, complete their doctoral dissertation under the guidance of five advising faculty members, and have their dissertation reviewed. Fifteen people have received their PhD from this graduate school’s International Politics major, and they have gone on to take teaching and research positions at universities and other locations.
Degree Requirements
To complete the program, students must be enrolled for the required period of study, be certified in one foreign language, pass a doctoral dissertation application review, and pass a final (oral) examination. For the majors of International Politics, International Economics, and International Communication, students must earn 4 credits in each major and 12 credits in research guidance seminars.
Course Subjects
| International Politics Major | First Semester | Second Semester | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Theories of International Politics I (2 credits) | Theories of International Politics II (2 credits) | 4 credits |
Research Guidance Seminars
| International Politics Major | First Semester | Second Semester | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | International Politics Research Guidance Seminar I A (2 credits) |
International Politics Research Guidance Seminar I B (2 credits) |
4 credits |
| Year 2 | International Politics Research Guidance Seminar II A (2 credits) |
International Politics Research Guidance Seminar II B (2 credits) |
4 credits |
| Year 3 | International Politics Research Guidance Seminar III A (2 credits) |
International Politics Research Guidance Seminar III B (2 credits) |
4 credits |
The term of study for the doctoral program is set at a standard of three years (Graduate School Regulations Article 10), but those who have achieved outstanding research work may complete the degree in fewer than three years. If completing the degree in less than three years, the student will need to complete the above number of credits within their term of study. However, the Graduate School has a set process for submitting doctoral dissertation applications, and these applications cannot be submitted except through this process.
Search the curriculum (Japanese version only)
Dissertation Application Submission Requirements and Process
Precautions before submitting a doctoral dissertation application
Students must pass the following exams to complete the program. Please note that the members of the research guidance committee, consisting of five faculty members, including a research advisor and assistant research advisor, must be chosen before taking each of these exams. Be sure to check with the registrar’s office that the members of the research guidance committee have been finalized.
- Doctoral dissertation research plan evaluation
- Doctoral dissertation interim report (no pass/fail decision)
- Final doctoral dissertation report
- Final doctoral dissertation review