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Course Outline for Contemporary Foreign Policy of Japan

Course Outline for Contemporary Foreign Policy of Japan

Programme: M. Phil
Course No: EA 613
Semester: Winter
Credits: Three
Course Teacher: Lalima Varma

 
  1. Background of Japanese Foreign Policy from ancient times till the end of Tokugawa period i.e. 1858. 
         This section will deal with the Japan’s interaction with the outside world mainly China & Korean peninsula.
  1. Opening of Japan by Commodore Perry, conclusion of  unequal treaties signed between   Japan and different western countries.
  2. Japan’s Foreign Policy objectives during the Meiji.
          This section will deal with Yamagata Aritomo’s military strategy.
          Japan’s expansionist policy, Role of education; Writings of different writers on imperialism; secret societies etc.  
  1. First Sino-Japanese war 1894-95 .
  2. Triple Intervention–Impact on Japan’s Foreign Policy decision – making.
  3. Anglo - Japanese alliance 1902.
  4. Russo - Japanese War 1905.
  5. 1910 – Annexation of Korea.
  6. Japan’s role in World War II.
          The Twenty One Demands.
          League of Nations.
  1. The great depression; deteriorating economic conditions; withdrawal from the League of Nations.
  2. Japan’s China Policy in the 1930s .
          The second Sino Japanese of 1937.
  1. Japan and World War II Potsdam declaration, defeat.
  2. Occupation of Japan by Allied Powers
  3. San Francisco Peace Treaty 1952. Negotiations.
  4. Japan  - US Security Treaty.
          Security and economic aspects.
  1. Japan - China relations, Economic problems, ODA, territorial issues, Taiwan issue, historical issues etc.
  2. Japan’s Security National Defense Programme Outline, Self Defense Forces.
  3. Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
  4. Japan and Southeast Asia Economic & Strategic aspect.
  5. Russo – Japanese relations.
  6. Japan – India relations.
  7. Japan and the developing world.
  8. Japan’s role in the United Nations and other multilateral agencies.
  9. Japan’s initiative in ASEAN+3, East Asia Community etc.
  10.  Japan and European Union Economic problems political relations.
 

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.