Module manager: Dr Alexander Rotard
Email: A.P.Rotard@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Japan continues to be a major actor in regional and global governance, while still struggling with aspects of its turbulent wartime legacy. This module explores the evolution of Japan’s international relations since the end of World War II, and considers the foreign policy-making process in Japan. It looks at the various domestic and external determinants of Japan's foreign policy, before moving on to explore Japan's relations with the major countries and regions of the world. It considers Japan's changing regional and global role since the end of the Cold War, and the prospects for Japan to become a 'normal' nation. The module will consider the ways in which Japan wields its still considerable economic and, increasingly, cultural power (soft power) alongside its political and military (hard) power. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The core objective of the module is to enable students to understand how and why Japan has interacted with the rest of the world since 1945, returning to international society in the 1950s and becoming East Asia's major power by the 1960s. The module outlines the various ways in which Japanese foreign policy has been interpreted and understood by academics and other governments enabling students to develop a critical awareness of Japan's contribution to regional and global governance since the end of World War II.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Identify and discuss the domestic and external determinants of Japanese foreign policy, and the norms driving foreign policy behaviour;
2. Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of how foreign policy is formulated in Japan;
3. Assess how Japan has interacted with other major actors in international politics in the post-war period and evaluate different interpretations of Japan's foreign policy behaviour;
4. Analyse recent developments in Japan's international relations.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Communicate clearly and effectively ideas and information
6. Seek out from different sources the information or evidence needed in order to understand an issue, or to address a problem or task.
7. Recognise and assess arguments in scholarly literature, evaluate their credibility, and formulate their own position in response.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Independent online learning hours | 20 | ||
| Private study hours | 160 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Student progress will be monitored through Q&A sessions during lectures (based on the weekly guided readings), during the seminar discussions and by means of non-assessed group presentations (for which informal feedback on structure, content, delivery is provided by the tutor).
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | essay | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 14/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team