KIC

RYOYUKAN　RY501

English

N.B. Not only GS students but also IR students are welcome. IR students can submit term papers and a graduation thesis either in English or in Japanese.

In this advanced seminar, we will examine several important issues, both empirical and theoretical, related to “international politics and political economy” (IP/IPE) and “comparative politics and political economy” (CP/CPE). Several definitions of political economy exist, but for us, it is essentially a “political” analysis of economic policies, institutions, and phenomena. An analysis of the incentives of political and economic actors, such as governments (states), politicians, bureaucrats, and business sectors, is essential to understanding how and why certain policies are formulated.

In IP and IPE, we will examine the interactions among countries and their foreign policies, including those related to security, economy (trade, investment, capital transactions, etc.), environment, and human rights. Examples include regional economic integration in the Asia Pacific such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the US-China trade conflict and the impact of "de-risking" on the global value chain, and the Sino-Japanese relationship, including the competition and cooperation in FDI in Southeast Asia.

In CP and CPE, we will examine the similarities and differences in economic and other policies among countries and analyze how and why they exist. Examples include comparative labor market policy, increase in precarious work, gender discrimination in the labor market, fertility rates and work-life balance, and comparative analysis of economic efficiency and digitalization policy. We will read several book chapters and journal articles so that we will be able to understand relevant basic concepts and theories. Also, we will apply them to several country case studies.

In your first year of this seminar (your third academic year), you will make a presentation on a chapter of the seminar text on global/international political economy in your first semester. You will also write a preliminary research proposal in your second semester. In your second year of this seminar (your fourth academic year), you will prepare for the final dissertation by presenting several aspects of your research, such as research questions, literature review, and methodology. The geographical areas of your research for the dissertation can be any region.

I have convened this seminar since the fall semester of the academic year 2021. Currently (Spring 2024), we have 13 students in this seminar. As for me, before I came to Ritsumeikan, I taught IP/IPE and CP/CPE for more than 10 years in the UK and also in several other countries such as the US and Spain. My geographical areas of expertise include East Asia (including Japan), several European countries (such as Spain and Italy), and the US.

-Understanding of the basic concepts and theories of IP/IPE and CP/CPE.
-Examining important issues related to international or comparative politics and political economy of selected countries or regions.
-Familiarizing yourself with the basic components of a good dissertation and preparing for the final dissertation well in advance.

No preparatory study is required although having taken courses on politics, economics and international relations previously would be useful.

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors)	Theme
	Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1-15	Seminar Management
	For the third-year students: In the first semester, several readings will be assigned. Students will need to read them “critically” to examine the appropriateness of methodology in terms of empirical analysis, theoretical application, data use, and so on. Students will be required to provide a presentation of critical reading. After individual presentations by students in each class, other students will provide feedback on the presentations. These presentations will be assessed. Students will also be required to write a term paper that summarizes their presentation of critical reading or a term paper on the topic of their selection (see “Grade Evaluation Method” below). In the second semester, students will start working to identify research questions, conduct a literature review, and design an appropriate methodology to write a preliminary proposal for the dissertation. Students will be required to present a draft of the preliminary proposal. Other students will provide feedback. These presentations will be assessed, and students will submit a revised preliminary proposal as a term paper. For the fourth-year (final-year) students: In both semesters, students will work to complete writing a dissertation. Students will be required to present the drafts of the dissertation (drafts of an introductory chapter and another chapter in their third semester and drafts of two other chapters in their fourth semester), and other students will provide feedback. These presentations will be assessed. Students will be required to submit a term paper that includes two chapters (an introductory chapter and another chapter) in their third semester and a final dissertation in their fourth semester.

The class format for each class will be announced on manaba+R’s course news. Also, the class format for the first class will be notified on manaba+R’s course news before the first class(*).
For “Special Consideration”, please check manaba+R’s College of IR Student Page and the “Study Support Site”.

College of IR Student Page：https://ct.ritsumei.ac.jp/ct/course_1728150
Study Support Site：https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/pathways-future/eng/

(*)To check the class format for the first class of the course, you will need to apply for the “early use request function.” Refer to the Registration Guidebook AY 2023 for details. Please be careful that applying for the early use request does not sign you up for the course. You will need to register for courses during the designated period separately.

“Critical” reading of assigned materials, including certain tasks such as the identification of research questions, critical review in terms of empirical analysis, theoretical application and data analysis, and so on.

Kind	Percentage	Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)
Report Examination (A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)
Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　 (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)	100	Term Paper 40% A term paper on critical reading (Third year, first semester; possibly second semester too); A proposal as a term paper (Possibly third year, second semester); Two chapters of the dissertation as a term paper (Fourth year, both semesters) Continuous Assessment 60% (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class) Assessment of two presentations per semester (2x30%)

You should be able to identify an appropriate theoretical and empirical approach to your research question and include adequate data to support your main arguments.

Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN Code	Comment
Global Political Economy: Theory and Practice	Cohn, Theodore H.	Routledge	9781003056881 (eBook)

No reference books are used.

The instructor will provide web pages for reference when relevant.

Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html