SOCIAL THEORIES AND GLOBALIZATION

This course is a complementary part of the “Japan” program within the Master’s degree in Languages, Economics and Institutions of Asia and the Mediterranean Africa. It is an elective mandatory course in the Master’s program and is designed to provide students with fundamental knowledge of contemporary Japan, supporting the preparation of their Master’s thesis.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Knowledge and Understanding: demonstrate advanced knowledge of contemporary Japan, with critical understanding of social, economic, and political phenomena.
2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding: integrate acquired knowledge into the design of a master’s thesis research proposal, planning a methodologically rigorous and realistic approach.
3. Judgment Autonomy: critically evaluate sources and data, reflect on social and economic implications, and develop independent, reasoned judgments.
4. Communication Skills: present complex concepts clearly and coherently, both in writing (research proposal) and orally during discussions or presentations.
5. Learning Skills: organize independent study and deepen knowledge of contemporary Japan, preparing for the master’s thesis and future advanced research activities.

It is recommended that students possess an intermediate level of Japanese proficiency (JLPT N3) to effectively integrate and deepen their understanding of the topics covered in the course. Knowledge of the Japanese language is highly advantageous for accessing primary sources directly.

① Course Overview
② From Industrialized to Post-Industrial Society
③ Characteristics of Japan I: Social Security
④ Characteristics of Japan II: Immigration and Regional Economies
⑤ The Establishment of the “Japanese Model Industrial Society” I
⑥ The Establishment of the “Japanese Model Industrial Society” II
⑦ From the Bubble Era to the 1990s I
⑧ From the Bubble Era to the 1990s II
⑨ The Pendulum Swing Between “Authoritarianism” and “Chaos”
⑩ The Non-Partisan Voter Base and Populism I
⑪ The Non-Partisan Voter Base and Populism II
⑫ “Middle Class Decline” and “Yutori Education”
⑬ Female Labor and Declining Birthrates
⑭ “Inequality” and Regional Areas
⑮ The Gap Between Social Structure and Social Formulas

Teaching materials
Oguma, Eiji, ed., 2019, Heisei-shi （Heisei History） [Complete Edition], Kawade Shobo Shinsha.

Supplementary materials
Gordon, Andrew, 2020, A Modern History of Japan: from Tokugawa Times to the Present, Fourth Edition, Oxford University Press.

Dictionary
Scott, John, ed., 2014, A Dictionary of Sociology (4 ed.), Oxford University Press.
Brown, Garrett W., Iain McLean, and Alistair McMillan eds., 2018, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics and International Relations (4 ed.), Oxford University Press.
Hashimzade, Nigar, Gareth Myles, and John Black, eds., 2017, A Dictionary of Economics (5 ed.), Oxford University Press.

To complete this course, students must fulfill the following requirements. The examination program is the same for non-frequentanti students. For non-attending students, thorough study of all materials and readings uploaded to the Moodle platform is essential for exam preparation.

Students are required to prepare a master’s thesis research proposal. Passing grade: 18/30. The exam is computer-based and must be written in English or Japanese. No outside materials are allowed.

The research proposal must address the following points:
1. What topics and themes related to Japan interest you?
2. Review of prior research.
3. What research question do you wish to answer?
4. What sample will you use, and what methods will you employ for data collection?

In preparing the proposal, students must also reference foundational knowledge about contemporary Japan covered in class. Explain this knowledge in your own words and describe how you applied it, whether positively or negatively.

written

30–28 (Excellent) – Excellent understanding of contemporary Japan, with outstanding ability to reference class knowledge accurately, explain it in their own words, and integrate it coherently and rigorously into a research proposal that is realistic and addresses all required points (topics of interest, prior research, research question, sample, and methods).

27–24 (Very Good) – Very good understanding of contemporary Japan, with effective use of class knowledge in the proposal, explained in their own words, and good integration into the research proposal, with minor weaknesses in coherence, realism, or coverage of required points.

23–21 (Good) – Sound understanding of key concepts about contemporary Japan, with adequate reference to class knowledge, generally appropriate integration into the research proposal, though lacking depth, precision, or full realism.

20–18 (Satisfactory – Pass) – Basic understanding of contemporary Japan, limited use of class knowledge, and a research proposal that addresses required points with limited but acceptable coherence and realism.

Below 18 (Fail) – Insufficient understanding of contemporary Japan and/or inability to reference or apply class knowledge in the research proposal, with a proposal that fails to address required points adequately or lacks coherence and realism.

Frontal lessons will be conducted in Japanese.

All lesson materials and additional readings will be made available on the Moodle platform dedicated to the course.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development