On June 19th 2012, Mr. Kazushige Taniguchi, Special Representative from Japan for The World Bank visited Hosei University and delivered a lecture on The World Bank in The Multi-Polar Economy. First, he insisted on the Developing Countries’ Rising Role and background of developing countries. Although developing countries are playing a key role in the global growth, those countries still have some issues. For example, high percentage of population without access to electricity, excessive numbers of deaths of female population and children under the age of five and high emission of CO2. Second, he made statements on Japanese economy and population. Total Population of Japan has been continuously decreasing since 2005, the year which the peak of the Japanese population was at and GDP of Japan is not growing after the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble. Finally, Mr. Taniguch explained general description of The World Bank. He said that The World Bank is the largest international development financial institution in the world and provides long-term development assistance to developing countries by cooperating with The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in comparing countries. He also explained about “World Bank/International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings” that is to be held in Japan this year. (Minako Ishikawa)

　On 12th June 2012, Professor Hasegawa delivered a lecture on liberalism and international political economy. Adam Smith claimed that wealth of nation increases if economic activities are left to the invisible hand. David Ricardo said that the theory of comparative advantage explains the benefit of free trade. They insisted that a government should leave men and their activities alone and not to regulate them. Liberalism has three variations. It is market, institutional and republican liberalism. Interdependence makes nation states to seek stability and peace while international organizations set norms and rules to enable states to cooperate. Secondly, Professor Hasegawa explained the Neo-liberalism. The market should function without government intervention. Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan are the ones who carried this out. By various systems such as GATT or WTO, the doctrine advocating global free market gained strength. Then John Williamson made the Washington consensus which called for restructuring, deregulation, tax reform, tariff abolition, free capital movement, etc. Thirdly, Professor Hasegawa explained the implications of financial crises that took place during the last two decades The Asian Financial Crisis started in Thailand and spread to Indonesia, South Korea and other parts of Asia and Russia in late 1990s. This was a sudden loss of confidence in national currencies of these countries. The world financial crisis that continues up to today began by the extension of excess subprime loans in 2007. Finally, he explained the nature and extent of the current European sovereign debt crisis. Many European countries are suffering from enormous debts from huge public expenditure and capital shortage in banks. The amount of public expenditures has been kept relatively low in comparison with other advanced countries. The number of public servants in Japan is less than almost all other industrialized countries of Europe and North America. Japanese banks which had most serious problem in the 1990s now have low loan deposit ratios and stronger a capital liquidity position than European banks. But, the level of Japan`s government and public sector debt is excessively high at about twice the amount of Japan’s gross domestic product. The public debt has to be curtailed lest it would eventually impact the national solvency. (Daiki Kawabe)

　On June 5th 2012, Ms. Keiko Yanai who is the Senior Coordinator, Non-Proliferation, Science and Nuclear Energy Division, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lecture on the non-proliferation politics. First, she talked about means of arms reduction and nonproliferation, and explained that they are needed for three reasons; the military security, humanitarianism and the economical development. Also, she referred to the present condition of nuclear states in the world, the general outline of NPT and rules of IAEA and Japanese policies on arms reduction and nonproliferation. Next, she talked about termination attempt on the use of CCM as a case-study for international struggle for arms reduction and nonproliferation. Then, she referred to the UN’s process on reduction and nonproliferation and noted that the diplomacy is to adjust the profits and national interests states have to promote. Finally, she argued that the cooperation with a civil society is required for nations to encourage the reduction and non proliferation. (Sayaka Yatabe)

　On May 29th, 2012, Mr. Akio Miyajima, Deputy Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited our University and gave a lecture in the Diplomacy class on Japanese UN diplomacy on human rights. First, he outlined basic concept of human rights and shared the class with recent news reports and focused on the history of human rights, important advancements and setbacks including genocides, after the WWII. Second, he explained on UN’s effort on human rights, its achievements as well as limits. He cited important UN agreements including UN Charter and World Declaration on human rights. He also talked about the new concept of “Responsibility to Protect.(R2P)”When human rights of civilians are not by their government, who should protect them? What is the responsibility of international community? Finally, he explained on Japanese diplomacy on human right and emphasized that Japan basically relies on “dialogue and cooperation”approach and has employed “human security” as important implementing perspective. He talked about efforts on UN human rights resolution. He distributed copy of Statement by Mr.Yamane, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs at Human Rights Council High-level segment in Geneva which highlighted Japanese efforts on human rights both at international level and at home. (Risa Kato)

　On May, 22, 2012, Mr. Akashi, former Undersecretary-General of the United Nations, visited Hosei University and gave a lecture on the United Nations in relation to its current challenges and interventions. Though the UN is carrying out on an intervention in Syria, – through ex-Secretary-General Kofi Anann’s mediation and its truce-monitoring mission, anti-government groups are claiming that current intervention by the UN is insufficient and calling for further UN involvement in Syria. But it is impossible to answer such a call. There are two reasons why the UN is unable to do so. First, the system of the Security Council. The existence of veto, held by five permanent members, is a cause of difficulty in decision making. This prerogative for the five is important in keeping powerful nations engaged in the UN. Second the interest of each member state that has a strong influence on the UN and its decision making. The UN is in some dilemma, having learned from failures in intervention in the past. A new notion was proclaimed in the Outcome Document adopted in 2005 as “the responsibility to protect”. At present, the UN is in a major transition from absolute state sovereignty to the implementation of trans-national human rights. The system of the Security Council and the divergent state interests prevent the UN from living up to the high expectation of the UN charter. On the other hand, member states can reach agreement when find a mutual interest to do so. So the key for greater efficiency of the UN is for the member states explore and reach more compromises in their struggle for interest harmonization, in order to better manage the UN. (Yuka Narikawa)

　On 24th April 2012, Mr, Shigeki Takizaki, Director, Personnel Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made a lecture about “Japanese Security Policy” and “Public　Diplomacy”. First, he explained about the “Japanese security policy”. After explaining what is national security and the security environment of Japan which has remained unstable even after the Cold War finished, he demonstrated Japan’s three-layered security policy. The first one is to protect itself by its own efforts such as the Self-Defense Forces. The second is to strengthen Japan-US security arrangements. The last one is to contribute to global security by sending SDF to UN peacekeeping operations, working active at various international organizations such as the UN etc. Second, he explained about “public diplomacy”. It is diplomacy which works directly upon individuals and the public opinion abroad to increase a national interest and to achieve diplomatic purpose. It is getting more important because the public opinion today mobilizes a government especially in democratic society. However, it is difficult for the public diplomacy to achieve something beyond real diplomatic policy or what a country really is. Finally he showed Japanese public diplomacy to the US through his experiences such as JET(Japan Exchange and Teaching) programme and the centennial of gift of cherry trees from Japan to US. (Yui Narikawa)

　On April 17th 2012, Professor Hasegawa lectured on Diplomacy theory and practice. First, he explained the difference between nation country and state. It is important to understand Sovereignty and Control. Second, he lectured in the diplomatic method. He referred to the origin of diplomacy and development. As an example, he used the thoughts of Thomas Hobbes, Rousseau and Carl Schmitt. Third, he explained modern diplomacy. He explained Mixture of ideology. He said that if mixture of ideology occurs, double diplomacy will break out. After that, he showed us video clip about the World War II in order to discuss why Japan started the Pacific War. Finally, he compared the main point of realism which faces the problem of Dilemma of a security with Neo-realism which assumes objective society. (Yuhi Kawase)

　On April 10th, 2012, Professor Hasegawa started his lecture on Sogo Gaiko Koza (Comprehensive Foreign Policy and Diplomacy). First, he explained the synthesis on foreign policy, paradigm shift and method of evaluation. He explained how any particular paradigm affects the perception of events by people. As an example, he referred to the changing views of Japanese people about the launchings of ballistic missiles by North Korea over the past several years. Second, he explained various forms of diplomacy practiced by nation states, their governments and citizens and the difference in how diplomacy has been conducted by authoritarian and democratic countries. He referred to the problem created for the Government of Japan by the unintended outcome of the visit of former Prime Minister Hatoyama to Iran. In addition, he explained the importance of knowing the partners and adversaries as well as oneself in diplomacy and negotiations as explained by Sun Tzu and Mitoji Yabunaka. Third, he explained the implications of the Westphalia order and sovereignty of state. Finally, he mentioned the main elements of theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism in explaining international relations, including the term of “security dilemma”. (Yasuki Uchiyama)

On January 11, Professor Hasegawa delivered a lecture about regional diplomacy. First of all, he explained the birth and development of ASEAN, particularly AFTA, CEPT and EPA, and mentioned the extent of economic integration of ASEAN. He then pointed out the reasons why the process of regional integration has not proceeded as rapidly as in Europe. He explained that ASEAN moved forward with forming ASEAN plus One, ASEAN plus Three and East Asian Community, encompassing not only the economic but also the political, social and security cooperation of its member states as well as other countries of the region. The regional framework was expanded to include the United States and Russia in the forum of East Asian Summit. Finally, he made a comparison of Asian and European experiences and explained the reasons for the extent of integrations that has taken place in East Asia and Europe. (Yuka Hirakawa)

　On 20th November 2011, Professor Hasegawa lectured on the diplomacy centered political economy, in terms of particularly the meaning of trade and economic integration. Firstly, he explained the theories of international political economy, and indicated the rise of neo-liberal theory culminating in the Washington Consensus that influenced the policies of advanced as well as developing countries. Then, He mentioned the implications of FTA and EPA as well as the transition from GATT to WTO. He also noticed the status and the coming challenges of the international economy on regional economic integration. (Keiki Takemasa)

The fifth dialogue with an ambassador was held in Sotobori 307 on 14 December 2011 with H.E. Mr. Urs Bucher Ambassador of Switzerland in Japan.
Firstly, welcome remarks made by Professor Mitsutoshi Somura, Dean/Department of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies of Hosei University. After that Ambassador explained how Switzerland has been a considerable country in Global World, regardless of their small territory. In the dialogue, the ambassador emphasized their specialties; neutrality, direct democracy and soft power.
　After the presentation, there was question- and- answer period and a lot of students asked Ambassador many questions.
(Lena Kondo)

　12月07日、スカイホールにて内閣府国際平和協力本部事務局長羽田浩二様にご講演いただきました。まず初めに、羽田事務局長は現在の国際的な平和活動のための内閣府国際平和協力本部の取り組みについて、南スーダンの国づくりへの協力を用いてご説明されました。次に、国際的な平和活動の概要として、PKOの歴史上での変遷や、平和活動にあたっての日本の協力展開状況を、現状報告の資料を用いてお話しされました。そして、これからの日本の、PKOへの積極的参加のための法的枠組み等の強化に対する課題をお話しされました。
（平林　聡一朗）

　On 30 November, Visiting Professor of the UN University Institute of Advanced Studies delivered a lecture. First, he said that unlike traditional diplomacy, multilateral diplomacy on global issues is a sophisticated pursuit of common interests of the entire humanity centering around the UN. Second, he reviewed the evolution of environmental governance since the 1992 Earth Summit by citing important regimes for international cooperation, such as those on climate change, biodiversity, desertification and marshlands. Third, he explained that global warming is one of the most serious issues of this century, which needs to be stabilized before too late. Noting that all countries, whether developed or developing, “share common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities,” he said that unless this basic principle is agreed at the current negotiations in Durban on climate change, an extension of the Kyoto Protocol would be ineffective and meaningless, as Japan, Russia and Canada rightly assert. (Yuna Kitamura)

　The fifth dialogue with an ambassador was held in the Sky Hall of the Hosei University on 16 November 2011 with H.E. Ambassador David Warren of the United Kingdom to Japan. First of all, Ambassador Warren explained the meaning of his being “Her Britannic Majesty`s Ambassador to Japan.” and how he was carrying out his responsibility to represent the interest of his country. After that, he spoke about the significance of trade liberalization and economic cooperation taking place in East Asia and also mentioned the security situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Ambassador Warren emphasized the importance of international cooperation.
Secondly, he explained the economic relationship between Japan and the United Kingdom. After his presentation, Hosei University faculty members including Professors Satoru Mori and Kwon Hoyon, and Associated Professors Alan Meadows and Hiromi Fujishige made their comments. Several students then asked Ambassador Warren questions about the changing British foreign policy, the financial crisis in Europe and other issues. (Saki Sakamoto)

　On 19 October 2011, Mr. Akio Miyajima, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a lecture in the Sky Hall. Firstly he explained about problems about the United Nations and the world globalizing rapidly, used Ban Ki-moon U.N. Secretary General speech. Secondly, he talked about diplomacy between Japan and UN, and presented the support from each country when the East Japan great earthquake disaster occurred on March 11. Furthermore, He spoke, being related to a speech of Prime Minister Noda, importance of the contribution to the global community as thanks to support. Then, he referred to problems such as the human and finance contribution of Japan to the United Nations, and at last, he advised to students who want to become UN staffs. (Mai Kato)