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2023　Graduate Methodologies in Politics, Law and Administration F1

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Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Instructor(s)
Watanabe Akira  Nakajima Takeshi 
Class Format
Lecture    (Blended)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon1-4(W3-207(W323))  
Group
-
Course number
SHS.P462
Credits
2
Academic year
2023
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2023/4/14
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

Watanabe: This class is about fieldwork and "life-research balance". I have done research in Mexico and had traveled to the country at least 3 times are year, until the start of the pandemic. (I am hoping that maybe this year (2023) we can travel again!) It is also worth mentioning that I still live in Yamanashi, where I worked for 8 years before I transferred to Tokyo Tech, because of the pandemic. These experiences and that of online-teaching have led me to think about the importance of the relations between research and life, and it is still relevant now that we are regaining mobility somehow. In the last two years I learned a lot from my students, and this year, I will also try to create a space where we can learn a lot from each other about this quite important topic.

Nakajima: I have been doing fieldwork in India about 3 years from the 90's to the 2000's. The target is an organization called RSS, which leads political, cultural, and religious movements called "Hindu nationalism" and "Hindu fundamentalism." In India today, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), which is supported by RSS, is in charge of the ruling party. Prime Minister Narendra Moody is also a person who is closely related to RSS. I have been studying why the political movement of the right wing is expanding in modern India. In this class, based on my own fieldwork experience in India, I would like to talk about the problems of subject theory and representation of others.

Student learning outcomes

Students are expected to improve their understanding about fieldwork as a research method, and what it means to do research under these social conditions.

Keywords

Watanabe: fieldwork, life/research balance, Mexico

Nakajima:daily practice, agency, resistance, , subaltern, orientalism

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The class meets only during the 3rd quarter, on Monday morning (1-2 and 3-4 periods).

Watanabe: In the first half of the quarter, we invite several guest speakers to understand what is fieldwork. In the latter half of the quarter, students are expected to give presentations about their research (and in case you are willing to do so, to talk about their life-research balance).

Nakajima:I will give a lecture in the first half, and then the participants will have a discussion. Ｉwill send you a resume (or slide material) in advance.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Orientation Understand what this class is aiming for
Class 2 Class members introduce themselves to the class Class members get to know each other and share their interests
Class 3 Fieldwork and life-research balance (1) Understanding two important topics of the class: fieldwork and life-research balance (1)
Class 4 Agency / daily practice / resistance Understand the agency and daily practice
Class 5 Fieldwork and life-research balance (2) Understanding two important topics of the class: fieldwork and life-research balance (2)
Class 6 Gaze and subject－Gaze and subject Understand the gaze of others and the transformation of culture
Class 7 Learn from fieldworker's experience 1 Learn from fieldworker's experience
Class 8 Politics and agency - From the case of the slums in Delhi Learn from fieldworker's experience
Class 9 Learn from fieldworker's experience 2: Guest session Learn from fieldworker's experience
Class 10 Representation of the Weak-Subaltern Studies Think about describing the weak
Class 11 Presentations by the students about life/research balance Presentations by the students
Class 12 Representation of culture and tradition-Orientalism theory Understanding Edward Said's "Orientalism"
Class 13 Presentations by the students about life/research balance Presentations by the students
Class 14 Final remarks Review of what we have learnt in the class

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend enough time to digest what you have leaned about at class.

Textbook(s)

Course materials will be provided either at the first session, or at least one week before the session in which we discuss them. Watanabe will assign some of his own papers, which can be found at: https://researchmap.jp/akira_watanabe.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

No assigned reference books

Assessment criteria and methods

Comment sheets (30%) and term paper (70%)

Related courses

  • SHS.P441 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration S1A
  • SHS.P442 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration S1B
  • SHS.P443 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration F1A
  • SHS.P444 ： Graduate Lecture in Politics, Law and Administration F1B
  • SHS.P461 ： Graduate Methodologies in Politics, Law and Administration S1
  • SHS.P681 ： Graduate Project in Politics, Law and Administration S3
  • SHS.P682 ： Graduate Project in Politics, Law and Administration F3

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

No particular requirement

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