2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
International Relations A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Masaki Mizobuchi
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S104
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 3, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course, we will study the theories, concepts and methodologies of international politics and comparative politics, while focusing on the politics of the Middle East as a major case study. Middle Eastern politics encapsulates the major themes of international politics and comparative politics; including the establishment of decolonized states, the diversity of democracy and authoritarianism, nationalism, civil war and war, terrorism, the relationship between religion and the state, the political impact of oil resources, the civil-military relationship, social movements and revolutions, and populism. In this course, we will develop the ability to compare and analyze various cases in the Middle East, while building on these theoretical frameworks. At the same time, we will aim to understand the importance of trends in Middle East politics for Japan and the international community, and to acquire a perspective that allows us to view contemporary politics from multiple angles.
The aim of this course is to cultivate in students an awareness of issues that will encourage them to take an active interest in international relations theory and global issues.
Course description and aims
1) Understand the main concepts and theories of international politics and comparative politics.
2) To systematically study the political systems, political processes and historical background of the Middle East region.
3) To develop the ability to analyze political phenomena in the Middle East (decolonization, authoritarianism, conflict/civil war, religion and the state, etc.) within the framework of international politics and comparative politics.
4) To understand the importance of Middle Eastern politics for Japan and the international community, and to grasp its relevance to international affairs.
Keywords
Middle East, political science, international relations, comparative politics, decolonization, democracy, authoritarianism, nationalism, civil war, war, terrorism, religion, oil, civil-military relations, social movements, revolution, populism
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course will be conducted using PowerPoint and resumes, but the printed resumes will not be distributed, so please bring either a printed resume or a laptop or tablet device to each class. In addition, you will be asked to submit a comment sheet at the end of each class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The Ottoman Empire and the Islamic World in the Middle Ages | This lecture discusses the formation of the Ottoman Empire, its system of rule, the governing structure of the Islamic world, and the development and limitations of Islamic civilization in the Middle Ages. |
| Class 2 | World War I and the Triple-Entente Diplomacy of Great Britain | This course analyzes the background to the contradictory promises made by Britain to the various powers in the Middle East, including the Husayn-McMahon Agreement, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and the Balfour Declaration, and how this led to the later Palestine problem and the division of the Arab world. |
| Class 3 | Colonial independence struggles and Arab nationalism | This course will examine the development of the independence movement in Arab countries under French and British rule, the rise and fall of Arab nationalism, and the process of nation-building in each country after independence. |
| Class 4 | Islamic Revival and Islamism | This course will examine the origins of modern Islamism and its various forms, by organizing the trends in the political and social revival movements of Islam in the second half of the 20th century. |
| Class 5 | Four Waves of Islamic Extremism | Examining the historical development of Islamic extremism, this course will trace the evolution of the strategies and ideologies of organizations such as the Mujahideen movement, al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State. |
| Class 6 | The Arab Spring | This course will analyze the background to the large-scale anti-government movement that began with the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia at the end of 2010, the different developments in each country, the results and setbacks, and the impact on the regional order. |
| Class 7 | Regional Conflicts Surrounding Israel in 2024 | This lecture will examine the latest situation, including the involvement of regional powers such as Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Gulf countries, as well as the diplomatic strategies of major powers such as the United States, Russia, and China, with a focus on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, and consider the future outlook. |
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 the course material.
Textbook(s)
None.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
・ 小笠原弘幸『オスマン帝国：繁栄と衰亡の600年史』（中公新書、2018年）
・ 小杉泰『イスラームとは何か：その宗教・社会・文化』（講談社、1994年）
・ 鈴木董『オスマン帝国の解体：文化世界と国民国家』（講談社、2018年）
・ 臼杵陽『世界史の中のパレスチナ問題』（講談社、2013年）
・ 立山良司『ユダヤとアメリカ：揺れ動くイスラエル・ロビー』（中央公論社、2016年）
・ 末近浩太『イスラーム主義：もう一つの近代を構想する』（岩波書店、2018年）
・ 末近浩太『中東政治入門』（筑摩書房、2020年）
・ 酒井啓子『＜中東＞の考え方』（講談社、2010年）
・ 酒井啓子『9.11後の現代史』（講談社、2018年）
・ ユージン・ローガン（白須英子訳）『アラブ500年史：オスマン帝国支配から「アラブ革命」まで（上・下）』（白水社、2015年）
・ ロジャー・オーウェン（山尾大・溝渕正季訳）『現代中東の国家・権力・政治』（明石書店、2015年）
・ スティーヴン・ウォルト（今井宏平・溝渕正季訳）『同盟の起源：国際政治における脅威への均衡』（ミネルヴァ書房、2021年）
Evaluation methods and criteria
Reaction paper (20%), Final report (80%)
Related courses
- LAH.S204 ： International Relations B
- LAH.S305 ： International Relations C
- LAH.S426 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences26:International Relations
Prerequisites
It is desirable that you have studied world history at high school level.