Japan's role as a major power in the Asia-Pacific region makes understanding the nature and drivers of its foreign and security policy imperative.  This course examines how foreign and security policy is made in Japan, first focusing on the domestic political and economic variables that affect policy and then analysing some of the specific policy challenges Japan faces.   These include the pacifist constitution; the problem of historical memory; the overseas deployment of the SDF; the 3/11 disaster and nuclear power; and Japan’s relations with the U.S., China, and its other neighbours in the region.

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to demonstrate:

1. A comprehensive understanding of the evolution of Japan's political system, economy and changing domestic context for foreign and security policy since World War II;

2. An understanding of the domestic political and economic variables that affect these policies;

3. An understanding of the major strategic partnerships and security challenges faced by Japan;

4. Deeper insights into the specific foreign and security policy challenges with which Japan grapples, and the approach the government has taken to date;

4. The ability to understand the Japanese government’s perspective and involvement in regional security matters;

5. The capacity to make an argument in both written and oral work and to be able to apply the concepts and theories of the course to actual events (as developed through written assessments, in-class discussions and tutorial-based activities).

1. Tutorial participation    10%                
2. Short Essay                 20%                     
3. Research Essay               40%
4. Final Examination        30%

35 contact hours per semester

A 2-hour lecture session per week for 12 weeks and a 1-hour tutorial per week for 11 weeks of the  semester

No prerequisites are required.

A basic interest/knowledge in political science and/or international relations.

Electronic copies of key articles will be provided via Wattle.

Wattle

Power-point and recording enabled lecture theatre