2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses

International Politic C

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.S315
Number of credits: 200
Course offered: 2026
Offered quarter: 3Q
Syllabus updated: Apr 1, 2026
Language: Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

When we imagine the "world," do we not unconsciously assume a world composed of nation-states? At first glance, this seems natural. Almost all land on Earth is clearly demarcated as belonging to one country or another, with each state exercising sovereignty over its territory. Consequently, legal systems differ by country, and the movement of people and goods across borders is managed much more strictly than within them.
　From a historical perspective, however, this state-centric way of thinking about world order has not always been self-evident. It is only recently that the world has been almost entirely covered by states. Even as this particular order emerged in modern Europe and spread to other regions, movements transcending borders and striving for integration into larger units have persisted.
　　This course focuses on the "politics of territorial reconfiguration." Our objectives are threefold:
　　1. Understanding the multifaceted phenomenon of globalization.
　　2. Analyzing frameworks of large-scale governance, such as empires and regional integration.
　　3. Grasping the mechanisms through which the existing power structures of the state are challenged and reshaped by movements such as secessionism, feminism, and anti-racism.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
a) Explain the fluctuations and reconfigurations of political territories using key concepts introduced in the course.
b) Develop a sensitivity to the power structures inherent within our society.
c) Understand the formation of the modern world and discussing its constraining power as well as the possibilities for its transformation.

Keywords

Globalization, Integration, Fragmentation, Modern World-System, Nation-state, Empire, Liberal International Order, European Union (EU), World Order

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	Understanding the main themes and scope of the lecture.
Class 2	What is Globalization?	Defining globalization and providing an overview of its various facets, driving forces, and associated problems
Class 3	Pre-modern Regional Orders	Discussing the types of regional orders that existed before the world was divided into modern states.
Class 4	Formation of the Modern World-System	Tracing the process by which capitalism, as a driving force, interconnected different regions and integrated them as a whole.
Class 5	Globalization in the 19th Century	Comparing contemporary globalization with that of the past to identify similarities and differences.
Class 6	Empire and Decolonization	Analyzing how imperialism and independence movements interacted to reshape territorial boundaries.
Class 7	Rise and Fall of the Liberal International Order	Questioning why expectations for an order based on democracy, economic openness, and the rule of law swelled, only to decline rapidly thereafter.
Class 8	Inequality and Poverty	Understanding the structures through which global market integration has created disparities and divisions.
Class 9	International Migration	Considering the factors driving cross-border migration and analyzing how it becomes politicized.
Class 10	Nationalism and Ethnicity	Examining the dynamics of how national/ethnic identity leads to both political unification and fragmentation.
Class 11	Race	Discussing the history of how racial issues—from Nazism and Apartheid to Black Lives Matter—have driven political change.
Class 12	Gender	Re-examining how the actors and central issues of world politics have been "gendered" over time.
Class 13	Regional Integration	Understanding the mechanisms and difficulties of regional integration, using the EU as a case study.
Class 14	The Future of the World Order	Discussing potential developments in the global order in light of current trends such as the Russia-Ukraine War, the return of Donald Trump to power, and US-China tensions.
Class 15	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.

No specific reference books are assigned.

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.S119 ： International Politic A
LAH.S218 ： International Politic B
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.