This course examines cultural heritage, law and policy across countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with a particular focus on Indigenous cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, alongside international and comparative approaches to the protection of heritage. The term ‘cultural heritage’ can refer to a broad range of concepts, including tangible heritage (sites, monuments, objects), intangible heritage (language, stories, customs, lore), movable and immovable heritage. It may refer to the cultural heritage of a specific country, and/or the cultural heritage of specific Indigenous groups within that country. Law and policy do not always recognise these distinctions. Issues affecting cultural heritage can range from the impact of colonisation; a failure to recognise and protect Indigenous groups; the impact of war; and modern environmental factors. The first part of the course introduces students to the course concepts, focusing on traditional knowledge, Indigenous cultural heritage, the role of colonisation, and more general approaches to the term ‘cultural heritage’. It then examines the different international organisations that oversee and legal frameworks that have been introduced in this area, some effective and some less so, in addition to the approaches that individual countries have adopted in protecting these different areas, using existing intellectual property regimes or bespoke heritage law. The second part of the course focuses on specific country case studies, including Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Indonesia, examining the Indigenous cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of groups within these countries and the various, significant challenges that these Indigenous groups have faced. It then examines the Ainu people and recent legal efforts in Japan recognise and protect the culture of this group, before turning to the comprehensive domestic and international protection that Japan has adopted for its cultural heritage more generally. The course finishes with a reflection on the role of museums in the displacement of Indigenous cultural heritage and cultural heritage more generally; the ongoing, recent attempts to return Indigenous tangible cultural heritage to ancestors; and how law may help or hinder such attempts. Students do not need to have undertaken any prior legal study to successfully complete this course.

This course examines cultural heritage, law and policy across countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with a particular focus on Indigenous cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, alongside international and comparative approaches to the protection of heritage. The term ‘cultural heritage’ can refer to a broad range of concepts, including tangible heritage (sites, monuments, objects), intangible heritage (language, stories, customs, lore), movable and immovable heritage. It may refer to the cultural heritage of a specific country, and/or the cultural heritage of specific Indigenous groups within that country. Law and policy do not always recognise these distinctions. Issues affecting cultural heritage can range from the impact of colonisation; a failure to recognise and protect Indigenous groups; the impact of war; and modern environmental factors. The first part of the course introduces students to the course concepts, focusing on traditional knowledge, Indigenous cultural heritage, the role of colonisation, and more general approaches to the term ‘cultural heritage’. It then examines the different international organisations that oversee and legal frameworks that have been introduced in this area, some effective and some less so, in addition to the approaches that individual countries have adopted in protecting these different areas, using existing intellectual property regimes or bespoke heritage law. The second part of the course focuses on specific country case studies, including Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Indonesia, examining the Indigenous cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of groups within these countries and the various, significant challenges that these Indigenous groups have faced. It then examines the Ainu people and recent legal efforts in Japan recognise and protect the culture of this group, before turning to the comprehensive domestic and international protection that Japan has adopted for its cultural heritage more generally. The course finishes with a reflection on the role of museums in the displacement of Indigenous cultural heritage and cultural heritage more generally; the ongoing, recent attempts to return Indigenous tangible cultural heritage to ancestors; and how law may help or hinder such attempts. Students do not need to have undertaken any prior legal study to successfully complete this course.

In this course, students learn about STS (Science, Technology and Society) through case studies. What is this called science? How can we manage the conflicts between S&T and Society? Who are the experts? These questions appear in various issues around us, such as the pandemic of COVID-19, environmental problems, disasters, and governance of emerging technologies. In this course, we learn about, and discuss cases from STS perspectives. Students are required to do their own case analysis in their final report.

In this course, students learn about STS (Science, Technology and Society) through case studies. What is this called science? How can we manage the conflicts between S&T and Society? Who are the experts? These questions appear in various issues around us, such as the pandemic of COVID-19, environmental problems, disasters, and governance of emerging technologies. In this course, we learn about, and discuss cases from STS perspectives. Students are required to do their own case analysis in their final report.

The first objective of the course if for students to acquire conceptual, theoretical, and empirical knowledge of autocratization in current global politics. The concept of autocratization will be discussed and contrasted to that of democratization. Students will learn and discuss how autocratization is measured by leading independent assessing institutions (e.g. V-Dem, EUI, Freedom House). The second objective of the course is for students to acquire conceptual, theoretical, and empirical knowledge of the meanings, causes, and effects of populism as well as its historical and current character in various contexts. Thereby, students will be able to understand the role of populism, if any, in countries undergoing a reversal in the quality of democracy. The students will also develop the ability to assess different academic perspectives on populism and to independently and critically analyze populist rhetoric, as well as the social, economic and political conditions that promotes the growth of populism. The course includes and analyzes prominent recent examples of populist leaders and regimes, including tools they have used to come to power and keep it.

-The first objective of the course if for students to acquire conceptual, theoretical, and empirical knowledge of autocratization in current global politics. The concept of autocratization will be discussed and contrasted to that of democratization. Students will learn and discuss how autocratization is measured by leading independent assessing institutions (e.g. V-Dem, EUI, Freedom House). The second objective of the course is for students to acquire conceptual, theoretical, and empirical knowledge of the meanings, causes, and effects of populism as well as its historical and current character in various contexts. Thereby, students will be able to understand the role of populism, if any, in countries undergoing a reversal in the quality of democracy. The students will also develop the ability to assess different academic perspectives on populism and to independently and critically analyze populist rhetoric, as well as the social, economic and political conditions that promotes the growth of populism. The course includes and analyzes prominent recent examples of populist leaders and regimes, including tools they have used to come to power and keep it.

In this course, students learn about STS (Science, Technology and Society) through case studies. What is this called science? How can we manage the conflicts between S&T and Society? Who are the experts? These questions appear in various issues around us, such as the pandemic of COVID-19, environmental problems, disasters, and governance of emerging technologies. In this course, we learn about, and discuss cases from STS perspectives. Students are required to do their own case analysis in their final report.

In this course, students learn about STS (Science, Technology and Society) through case studies. What is this called science? How can we manage the conflicts between S&T and Society? Who are the experts? These questions appear in various issues around us, such as the pandemic of COVID-19, environmental problems, disasters, and governance of emerging technologies. In this course, we learn about, and discuss cases from STS perspectives. Students are required to do their own case analysis in their final report.

We will study issues/problems in international finance from economic, political, historical and international relations perspectives. We will look at inherent vulnerabilities of the international financial system, and understand the essence of the measures to address them through the accumulated theories and policies. I will also talk about my experience in working at international financial institutions whenever opportunities arise. 現在の国際金融上の諸問題を経済、政治、歴史、国際関係論的文脈で考察する。国際金融がシステムとして抱える脆弱性の淵源を学び、解決のために積み上げられてきた理論と政策議論を通して、問題への対応策の本質を理解する。機会に応じて、国際金融機関で働く経験についても紹介する。

We will study issues/problems in international finance from economic, political, historical and international relations perspectives. We will look at inherent vulnerabilities of the international financial system, and understand the essence of the measures to address them through the accumulated theories and policies. I will also talk about my experience in working at international financial institutions whenever opportunities arise. 現在の国際金融上の諸問題を経済、政治、歴史、国際関係論的文脈で考察する。国際金融がシステムとして抱える脆弱性の淵源を学び、解決のために積み上げられてきた理論と政策議論を通して、問題への対応策の本質を理解する。機会に応じて、国際金融機関で働く経験についても紹介する。