2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
International Politic A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Koichi Ikezaki
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S119
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 1, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The "crisis of liberalism"—or the "crisis of liberals"—has been a subject of debate for quite some time. But what exactly is liberalism? While it can be formally defined as a body of thought that seeks to respect individual liberty to the greatest extent possible, in reality, the concept is highly contested and open to various interpretations. Its meaning has shifted throughout history depending on what kind of freedom is being defended and against what threats. Consequently, while some enthusiastically champion its ideals, others express a profound aversion to them.
Regardless of such sentiments, however, liberal thought and political principles are already inextricably linked to the very fabric of our society. Therefore, revisiting the trajectory of liberalism and understanding the challenges it faces today provides an opportunity to re-examine the nature of our contemporary society itself, moving beyond individual political stances.
Accordingly, this course aims to:
1. Trace the historical development of liberalism to delineate its conceptual contours.
2. Discuss how liberalism is intertwined with the structures of modern society.
3. Elucidate the reasons behind the recent backlash against it.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
a) Explain the core tenets of liberalism by contrasting it with other political ideologies.
b) Envision potential social reforms, based on an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of liberal societies and the conditions necessary to sustain them.
c) Cultivate the skills necessary to understand and coexist with others who hold different values and opinions.
Keywords
Liberalism, Totalitarianism, The Cold War, Globalization, Populism, Chauvinism, Nationalism
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course is primarily lecture-based, but incorporates class discussions and reaction papers to encourage student feedback. Detailed information, including how materials will be shared and reading lists, will be provided during the first lecture. All students are required to attend the first class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction |
Providing an overview of the crises facing modern liberalism today. |
| Class 2 | What Liberalism Is (and Was) |
Grasping the classical meaning of liberalism and the historical context of its emergence, focusing on thinkers such as John Locke, Benjamin Constant, and J.S. Mill. |
| Class 3 | Fascism and Communism |
Exploring how liberalism was compelled to undergo transformation in response to the challenges posed by fascism and communism. |
| Class 4 | Cold War Liberals |
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of liberal political society through the ideas developed by a group of intellectuals known as 'Cold War Liberals.' |
| Class 5 | The Collapse of the Post-War Consensus |
Analyzing the socio-economic foundations of post-WWII liberal democracy and their transformation from the 1970s onward. |
| Class 6 | Populism |
Analyzing the background of how discontent among people marginalized by globalization has erupted into demands for economic redistribution and chauvinistic rhetoric. |
| Class 7 | Summary and Future Prospects |
Reviewing the course as a whole and discussing the future of liberalism. |
| Class 8 | Final Exam |
Evaluate the level of understanding through an examination. |
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 reference books and other course materials.
Textbook(s)
No required textbook.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reading the following works will help you get a better sense of the themes covered in the lectures (purchase is not required):
・Toru Yoshida, After Liberal: The Politics of Anger and Hatred, Kodansha Gendai Shinsho, 2020.
・Helena Rosenblatt, The Lost History of Liberalism: From Ancient Rome to the Twenty-First Century, Princeton University Press, 2018.
・Patrick J. Deneen, Why Liberalism Failed, Yale University Press, 2018.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Grading will be based on a mid-term paper (20%) and a final exam (80%). Active class participation and the submission of reaction papers will be considered for extra credit.
Related courses
- LAH.S218 ： International Politic B
- LAH.S315 ： International Politic C
- LAH.S453 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences63:International Politics
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge or specific conditions are required.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
ikezaki.k.253f[at]m.isct.ac.jp
Replace [at] with @.
Office hours
Email contact in advance required for appointments.