International Studies

This course offers an in-depth critical analysis of right-wing populism, emphasizing its theoretical foundations, historical evolution, and contemporary empirical manifestations. Students explore the ideological underpinnings of right-wing populism, its intersections with nationalism and authoritarian tendencies, and its broader implications for democratic governance. Through interdisciplinary scholarly literature, critical media analyses, and collaborative discussions, the course examines how right-wing populist movements emerge, sustain, and transform within diverse political systems and cultural contexts, focusing particularly on case studies from Europe and North America. Special attention is also given to the relationship between right-wing populism and pressing global issues such as climate change, fostering awareness of how environmental concerns are framed, instrumentalized, or denied within populist rhetoric. Upon completion of this course, students can clearly define and differentiate between key concepts including right-wing populism, radical right, and extreme right. They are capable of analyzing and critiquing the core ideological dimensions of populism and identifying the underlying factors that drive the emergence and rise of right-wing populist movements. Additionally, students evaluate the impact of digital communication technologies on populist rhetoric and political mobilization. They are also equipped to conduct comparative analyses of right-wing populist phenomena across different national contexts and critically assess the consequences of right-wing populism on democratic institutions, civil society, civic norms, and environmental discourse.

This graduate course examines how and why global development and international inequality can be shaped by the mega trends of science and technology innovations. Recent examples include the advent of artificial intelligence and smart cities utilizing big data. Understanding science and technology innovations affecting the fundamental modes of human life provides us with a radar for the uncertain direction of the future development of human society. This course examines the nature and causes of co-evolution between the innovations of science and technology and the socio-economic development and their consequences on global as well as national development. 

This class consists of ten sessions of lectures and five sessions of group presentation. After learning core materials of empirics and theories regarding the co-evolution of science, technology, and socio-economic development from the lecture sessions, students present a research project applying the learnings to the contemporary global or national development issues with specific policy suggestions. The scope of research projects is wide open from the traditional development agendas of urbanization or structural transformation to cutting-edge agendas of smart city design or socio-economic impacts from AI. Each presentation group is required to write a policy report which puts their presentation in a dialogue with ideas and topics from the course readings and lectures. 

This introductory survey course covers International Law, its brief history, f the relationship between international law and national law along with various fields of international law, and lastly discusses peaceful resolution related to the conflicts within various fields and wars through international law 

Topics include What is international law, history of international law, roots of international law, International law subject and recognition, Jurisdiction and immunity, State responsibility and liability of international law, International humanitarian law, International criminal law, Law of the sea, Air space law, Future of international law.  

This course studies some of the foundational doctrines of contemporary international law, while also equipping students with the tools to critique and question these foundational doctrines. While expounding upon some of the foundational doctrines and facets of international law such as sources, sovereignty, Law of Treaties, state responsibility, jurisdiction, international organizations, use of force, International Humanitarian Law, and International Criminal Law, this course also critically examines the complex and reciprocal relationship between international law and empire. It explores how empire was instrumental in the making of international law, shaping its foundational doctrines, institutions, and practices. Conversely, it also interrogates how international law itself became a powerful tool in the making and maintenance of empire, facilitating processes of domination, extraction, and governance across the globe. Drawing on critical perspectives—especially those advanced by Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) - the course challenges students to question conventional narratives and dominant frameworks. Through engagement with TWAIL scholarship and other critical schools, students analyze the extent to which international law continues to serve imperial interests and consider the question of whether international law, by itself, is now an empire.

This course covers the transformation of politics in the era of the internet, digital technologies and changes of methodological and conceptual terrain in the studies of politics, and relationship between politics and digital technologies. It helps students understand the role of communications media and mediation in public affairs and the manner in which digital technologies have reworked the political domain. 

This course covers comparative studies of social policy components and administration in ASEAN member countries and Western states, covering topics including social expenditures, theories and approaches to welfare provision and management, effectiveness of the welfare states, education, public health, housing, employment, taxation, social capital, civil society, social security, and social or welfare rights as well as social, economic, and political considerations that shape the welfare state.

This course explores the concept of equality through the lens of analytic philosophy, applying normative theories to pressing global ethical issues. The first part of the course engages in conceptual analysis of equality, examining key debates in distributive justice, structural injustice, and recognition theory. The second part of the course applies these theoretical foundations to real-world ethical challenges, including climate justice, post-colonialism, minority rights, war and conflict, migration, and human rights. Students are evaluated on their ability to mobilize normative concepts in their discussion of the problems and solutions particular to the global sphere.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. The course aims to provide an advanced understanding of the types, the causes, and the dynamics of political and criminal violence. At the end of the course, students are familiar with classical and contemporary theories on the origins of political violence, with studies on the different forms of organized violence, and with current research on how violence is exercised. Students are also familiar with the major methodological debates in the study of violence.

The course examines different types of collective violence, including violence occurring in civil wars, instances of state repression, mafia, and gang violence. It explores the different “types” of violence, defining their main features and uncovering their rationale through a plurality of approaches. Ultimately, the class provides the theoretical and empirical tools to study violence in its relations with political order(s). The course is divided in two sections. The first section – conducted through frontal lectures – explores classic types of “political violence” (such as civil wars, revolutions and terrorism) looking at their origins and dynamics, then looks second section deals with violence perpetrated by states (such as repressions and genocides) and violence that occurs within states that does not challenge their existence or regime (such as that perpetrated by organized crime and gangs). The second section – run as a seminar in which students present and discuss the assigned material – looks at the organizations that “produce” violence, and namely at insurgent and mafia groups, analyzing their emergence, their internal functioning, and their relations with violence.

This course explores the challenges and dilemmas of globalization, especially with regard to global human mobility; cultural flows and transformation; multiculturalism; ethnic communities; identities; citizenship, social divisions and inequality. While taking a global, comparative approach, this course places special emphasis on Japan and other industrial countries. Through lectures, discussions, and other class activities, the class collectively examines and evaluate key concepts and theories to deepen one's understanding of issues related to transnational sociology. 

This course discusses the causes, consequences, and trends of conflict in the world. Topics include: types of conflict (inter-state wars, intra-state wars, terrorism, ethnic conflict, and state repression); their long-term evolution; political, economic and social causes of conflict; their consequences for the world order.