Special Lecture: Southeast Asia

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Akiko Horiba

Class Format

Lecture

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.S111

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2025

Offered quarter

4Q

Syllabus updated

Mar 19, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course will promote understanding of Southeast Asian countries that are deeply connected with Japan. It will introduce an overview of people, societies, politics and cultures of the region from various perspectives. We will address the themes, closely related to current social problems, such as the history of colonial rules, the formation of nation-states, political systems, environmental problems, violent conflicts and so on. The aim of this course is to promote cross-cultural understanding, which is essential for living in a global society, and to foster a spirit of tolerance for differences. Through learning about Southeast Asia, students are expected to recognize various ways of living and thinking, which will lead to collaborate with others.

Course description and aims

Students will acquire the following skills from taking this course.
1) Understanding that Southeast Asia hold diverse cultures, religions and their own history, and it has developed in its own way with unique characteristics.
2) Understanding the diverse problems of a global society from various perspectives.
3) Skills for smooth communication with others, using the knowledge acquired.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

International cooporation Peacebuilding activities in Southeast Asia

Keywords

Southeast Asia, ASEAN, Area Studies, Cross-cultural understanding, Global society

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The class will cover a variety of topics related to Southeast Asia. Each topic will be discussed with your classmates. Students will make a presentation in English during the class.
Class is scheduled as follows;
Monday 16th Feb: Class 1 (period 5-6), Class 2（period 7-8）
Tuesday 17th Feb: Class 3 (period 5-6), Class 4（period 7-8）
Wednesday 18th Feb: Class 5 (period 3-4), Class 6（period 5-6), Class7 (period 7-8)
Room: to be decided

Course schedule/Objectives

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.

Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, (Revised edition, 2006). Course materials are provided during class.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students will be assessed on their commitment to the class (by aking questions and comments) (50%) and presentation (50%).

Related courses

• LAH.S104 ： International Relations A
• LAH.S204 ： International Relations B
• LAH.S305 ： International Relations C

Prerequisites

none required

Other

This is an intensive course. If acquiring credits for this course is related to your own graduation, eligibility for undergraduate major affiliation or for independent research project for the Bachelor's Degree, please keep the following two points in mind and fully understand the risks before taking this course.
- Intensive courses are held in a short period of time, and since there are many classes per day, as a general rule, it is not possible to take excused absences.
- There is a possibility that grades will not be reported in time for graduation decisions.