Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
15324:IR18‐CA201 Bridge to International Studies I (Order & Peace / Administration)(RC) § 15325:IR-CA201 Introduction to International Studies in English Ⅰ(RC) 2022 Spring Tue2 College　Of　International　Relations STRAUMANN CHISATO 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

RYOYUKAN　RY308

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

"There Is No Way to Peace, Peace Is the Way", A. J. Muste

At the World Summit in 2005, world leaders reached agreement on the “Responsibility to Protect (often referred as R2P)” initiative to protect people from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. It states, “Each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations… through appropriate and necessary means,” and “The international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means, in accordance with Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter, to help protect populations”. However, more tensions and conflicts in different parts of the world are happening.

This course explores the reasons for the continuing prevalence of war and violence and seeks to understand how we might build a more peaceful world. It aims to introduce students to the knowledge which has been accumulated in the field of peace studies, for example, analyzing historical and political background to understand the reasons behind the war or understanding the past events are still detectable. Ultimately this course will lead up to the essential questions, such as; What is peace?, What is justice?, What does it take to create peace?, Can nations change?

This course requires students to be the "active learner", and they will be continually challenged to think for themselves; How do you think we can manage conflict, what is your own responsibility, what is the best way for you to help personally?

Student Attainment Objectives

At the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. lean about the rational for war, peace, justice, and non-violence
2. recognize the various definitions of ‘peace’
3. understand the challenges we face in securing peace
4. apply the learnings to global and local current events and personal peace practice and experience
5. try to think about the answers for the following questions:
         - How do you think we can manage conflict?
         - What is your own responsibility?
         - What is the best way for you to help personally?
         - Can nations change?

Recommended Preparatory Course


Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introduction to the course and overview of the syllabus
What’s Peace Studies? Why Peace Studies?

Overview and explanation of the course - reading assignment, presentation assignment, & writing assignment

2

Definition of Peace, Measuring peace
Eastern concepts and Judeo-Christian concepts

Peace Index and analysis
Extension activities

3

Positive vs. Negative Peace
The Role of Structural Violence

Discussion about John Galtung's discipline of peace and conflict studies
Extension activities

4

Achieving Positive Peace
Review I

Extension activities

5

Social justice - Peace and Justice

Is war justifiable?
Extension activities

6

The peace-war continuum
Biological justification for war

Justifiable or simply catastrophic?
Extension activities

7

Social and political justifications for war
Review II

Reflection paper: Thoughtful Interaction - draft peer review
- Bring Reflection paper hard copy for in-class peer review session

8

The conservative viewpoint
The liberal viewpoint

Compare and contrast viewpoints
Extension activities

9

The radical leftist viewpoint

Discussion: some Progressive and Leftist viewpoints
Extension activities

10

Is war inevitable?
Can nations change?

Discussion: Peace-war behavior
Extension activities

11

Japan’s role in WW2; The battle of Okinawa; Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Discussion: Peace Declarations from Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Extension activities

12

Is peace studies politically and ideologically motivated?

Discussion: Is Peace Studies neutral? Critique of peace studies
Extension activities

13

Is Peace study redundant?
The nature and function of conflict

Discussion: How to promote peace
Extension activities

14

Students presentations

Details: TBA

15

Summary
Future directions in conflict and peace studies

Discussion: The current state of Peace Studies and challenges for the future
Extension activities

Class Format

[BCP Level 1 or 2]
・In principle, all 15 weeks (15 classes for once a week course, 30 classes for twice a week course) will be face-to-face.
・When a student is unable to attend face-to-face classes due to any of the following conditions, web-based follow-up will be provided for all classes. Students who fall under this category should notify their instructor by the first class.
 
[Conditions for web-based follow-up]
(1) When a student has a pre-existing condition/underlying health condition.
(2) When it is difficult for a student to commute to university due to concerns over putting cohabiting
family members at risk.
(3) When a student is unable to enter Japan due to international travel restrictions.
(4) Other valid reasons when a student has been impacted by COVID-19 and is under an unavoidable situation for which they are not responsible for.
 
 
[BCP Level 3 or 4]
・All 15 weeks (15 or 30 classes) will be web-based (Live-Streamed, using ZOOM): 15 or 30 ZOOM live-streamed lectures at the designated class hours/periods (i.e., 15 live-streamed classes for the once-a-week courses; 30 live-streamed classes for the twice-a-week courses).
 
※For more information on Ritsumeikan University's BCP Level, please refer to the following URL, Point No.1 “Measures to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).”
http://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/news/detail/?id=475

Recommendations for Private Study

The Sustainable Development Goals #16 states that “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” There are many important issues in peace studies.
Keep being interested in learning and finding out the realities around you and consciously thinking about how to develop a more peaceful culture and develop inner peace.

Grade Evaluation Method

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

Participation-Discussion 20%
Weekly journal writing (10 @3% each) 30%
Reflection paper 20%
Final presentation and paper 30%

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

(1) Be responsible for your owning learning (Responsibility/Self Management);
(2) Keep up with the assignments and do not fall behind (Meeting the deadline/Time Management)
(3) Read (understand) the designated readings in the textbook thoroughly (Preview).
(4) Make vocabulary notes and terminology notes (Organizing Skills).
(5) Make notes on quotes that you do not understand, and form questions or explain why you find it difficult to understand or unsure in 2-3 sentences. (Preview, Critical Thinking Skills)
(6) Type/copy quotes from the reading that either you are interested or you really disagree with. (Critical Thinking Skills, Academic Communication Skills)

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Introduction to Peace Studies: The Meaning of Peace David P. Barash, Kyoko Okumura and Aiko Saito (Ed.) The Eihōsha Ltd 978-4-269-12111-9

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
The Little Book of Peacebuilding: A vision and framework for peace with justice Lisa Schirch Good Books; Original edition 978-1561484270
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life Thich Nhat Hanh Bantam; Reissue edition 978-0553351392
Peace: A Very Short Introduction Oliver P. Richmond Oxford University Press 078-0-19-965600-4
Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development and Civilization Johan Galtung Sage Publications 0-8039-7510-4-2
Basic Stems to Write Research Papers David Kluge, Matthew Taylor Cengage Learning ELT 978-4-86312-308-3

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

  

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

Note: This syllabus is subject to change based on the needs of the class.
【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