2021 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration F1A
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Takeshi Nakajima
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.P443
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
"This course focuses on the characteristics of modern Japanese politics and diplomacy while also introducing psychohistoric viewpoints. Japan had been subject to Western impact as an “open country” from the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate up until the Meiji Restoration. At which point, Japan introduced a nation-state system, and accepted the concept of Westphalian sovereignty, a system of international order originating in the west. What was this modern political system that Japan accepted? What fractures, conflicts, and hardships were caused by its acceptance? By looking closely at the origins of modern Japan, students in this course will come to understand its characteristics as well as view the state of Japanese nationalism. Modern Japanese nationalism eventually results in “ultra-nationalism,” which includes elements of totalitarianism. Where does this trend in political thought, which should be considered Japanese-style fascism, come from? By discussing the process of this trend’s creation, students in this course will come to understand the ultra-nationalistic theories that swept through Japan at the beginning of the Showa period. In addition, students will discuss in what form this ultra-nationalism has been inherited by post-war Japan. Through the aforementioned tasks, students will come to understand the state of power in Japan, and obtain a vantage point on modern politics.
The aims of this course are two-fold:
1) To understand the characteristics of modernity in Japan.
2) To understand the state of Japanese-style totalitarianism.
By acquiring these abilities, students will obtain a vantage point for discussing contemporary Japanese politics. "
Course description and aims
"By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain the modern Japanese political system.
2) Explain the characteristics of Japanese modernity.
3) Analyze the contemporary Japanese political power structure by understanding modern Japanese nationalism and ultra-nationalism.
Keywords
nation state, sovereignty, nationalism, western impact, modern international order, the Peace of Westphalia, ultra nationalism, war, power
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Before coming to class, students should read the course schedule and check what topics will be covered. Required learning should be completed outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Guidance - What is right wing? What is left wing? | Become able to explain the differences between right wing and left wing ideologies. |
| Class 2 | Nationalism, sovereignty, and democracy: the nation-state system | Understand the process linking nationalism and popular sovereignty upon the creation of the system of nation-states. |
| Class 3 | Modern Japan and nation-states | Understand the process by which modern Japan accepted the nation-state system. |
| Class 4 | The formation of order in modern East Asia | Understand the process by which modern international order, originating in the West, was introduceed into the East Asian world. |
| Class 5 | The formation of ultra-nationalism – Masao Maruyama and Bunso Hashikawa | "Examine modern Japanese ultra-nationalism using arguments from Masao Maruyama and Bunso Hashikawa." |
| Class 6 | The characteristics of Japanese-style totalitarianism – struggle, reform and supranationality | Become able to explain the characteristics of Japanese-style totalitarianism. |
| Class 7 | Between the pre-war and post-war periods – continuity and discontinuity | "Examine what continued from the pre-war to the post-war period and what was discontinued." |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
None required.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students’ course scores are based on midterm (50%） and final papers (50%)
Related courses
- LAH.S103 ： Political Science A
- LAH.S203 ： Political Science B
- LAH.S304 ： Political Science C
- SHS.P461 ： Graduate Methodologies in Politics, Law and Administration S1
- SHS.P462 ： Graduate Methodologies in Politics, Law and Administration F1
- SHS.P681 ： Graduate Project in Politics, Law and Administration S3
- SHS.P682 ： Graduate Project in Politics, Law and Administration F3
- SHS.P441 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration S1A
- SHS.P442 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration S1B
- SHS.P444 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration F1B
Prerequisites
None required.