HISTORY OF RELATIONS BETWEEN EUROPE AND JAPAN

The course is among the Basic Educational Activities of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Language, Civilisation and the Science of Language, curriculum International politics. By providing students with foundational knowledge on the role played by Europe in the process of modernisation and transformation of Japan into a modern nation-state, as well as in the adoption of Western system of international relations, capitalistic practices and idea of civilisation, this course aims to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the relationships of Europe with the non-Western world in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as to provide them with the necessary analytical tools to reflect upon, understand and evaluate the meanings and implications of using alleged universal standards to measure the degree of modernity and civilisation of non-Western societies.

The course aims at the following learning goals:
a) knowledge and understanding of the development of European colonialism in Asia, the political and cultural stakes in exportation and reception of the European model of modernisation in East Asian societies with a focus on Japan, and notions and narratives of modernity;
b) to understand the significance of a historical perspective for contemporary issues, and to apply historical knowledge to analysing and historicising current events;
c) to critically evaluate the core topics of the course through analysis of different sources and classroom discussion;
d) to promote communication abilities by offering the opportunity of proposing classroom presentations on a volunteer basis.

Basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history.

The main topics of the course are:
- phases and faces of European colonialism in Asia;
- colonialism and civilizing mission;
- roots and effects of the First Opium War;
- Europe and the modernisation of Japan;
- modernity and identity in Japan;
- categories and narratives of modernity;
- legacies of European colonialism in East Asia.

Rosa Caroli, Francesco Gatti, Storia del Giappone, Laterza, Bari 2017, chapter. 4 e 5.
Enrica Collotti Pischel, Storia dell'Asia Orientale, Carocci, 2008, chapters. 1, 2 and 4.
Collotti Pischel E., Considerazioni su colonialismo e razzismo, Università di Milano, Facoltà di scienze politiche, Istituto di diritto e politica internazionale, Milano 1995, 55 pp.

One among the following articles /chapters:
Graeme J. N. Gooday; Morris F. Low, “Technology Transfer and Cultural Exchange: Western Scientists and Engineers Encounter Late Tokugawa and Meiji Japan”, in Osiris, vol. 13, 1998, pp. 99–128 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/301880 )
Hazel J. Jones, “The Formulation of the Meiji Government Policy Toward the Employment of Foreigners”, in Monumenta Nipponica, vol. 23, n. 1/2 (1968), pp. 9-30 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2383106 )
Kristin Meißner, “Responsivity within the Context of Informal Imperialism”, in Journal of Modern European History, Vol. 14, No. 2 (2016), pp. 268-289 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26266239?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents )

The oral examination aims to verify the student’s knowledge of the themes addressed in the texts listed in the bibliography and discussed during the course, as well as his/her ability to communicate clearly and effectively and to make appropriate use of historical terminology.
It consists of three questions:
1) a theme/topic chosen by the student, aiming at testing his/her ability to (a) put the issue in its proper historical contex and (b) develop and articulate a coherent historical narrative;
2) a question aiming at verifying his/her ability to (a) connect historical events and processes to specific circumstances of time and place as well as to broader processes occurring at the same time and (b) to make appropriate use of historical terminology, sources and methodologies;
3) a question aiming at verifying his/her ability to consciously apply the acquired knowledge in analyzing contemporary issues related to Europe’s political and cultural relations with non-Western societies.

oral

The minimum grade is 18, the maximum grade is 30 cum laude. The grades will be assigned as follows:
A. band 18-21: sufficient knowledge of the historical context; sufficient ability to critically understand the reception of the western European model of modernisation in Japan and other East Asian societies; sufficient ability to consciously apply historical knowledge to analysing and historicising current events;
B. band 22-25: decent knowledge of the historical context; decent ability to critically understand the reception of the western European model of modernisation in Japan and other East Asian societies; decent ability to consciously apply historical knowledge to analysing and historicising current events;
C. band 25-28: good knowledge of the historical context; good ability to critically understand the reception of the western European model of modernisation in Japan and other East Asian societies; good ability to consciously apply historical knowledge to analysing and historicising current events;
D. band 29-30: very good knowledge of the historical context; very good ability to critically understand the reception of the western European model of modernisation in Japan and other East Asian societies; very good ability to consciously apply historical knowledge to analysing and historicising current events;
E. 30/30 cum laude: excellent knowledge of the historical context; excellent ability to critically understand the reception of the western European model of modernisation in Japan and other East Asian societies; excellent ability to consciously apply historical knowledge to analysing and historicising current events.

Frontal lesson, PowerPoint, online sources, joint discussions and seminars with students' presentations.

The Disabled Students Service with the fundamental support of tutors offers several services throughout university studies, both for prospective and enroled students at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Services aim at facilitating the autonomy of students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia through successful integration in university life. More details in https://www.unive.it/pag/28640/

ESU CUORI provides free individual activities and group workshops aimed at all Ca' Foscari students: psychological counselling, training to improve study effectiveness, reorientation paths and seminars to learn how to manage anxiety. More details in https://www.unive.it/pag/41328/

Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before.
And we will applaud you every step of the way.
(Kamala Harris)

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