You are invited to the next monthly meeting of the Social Science Dissertation Workshop at the Institute of Social Science, Tokyo University. Presenting on Thursday September 27th in a NEW ROOM for us* will be Simon Schwenk. He is working on a PhD under Prof.
Verena Blechinger-Talcott at the Freie Universitaet Berlin, and has been at the DIJ since this spring.
Simon is studying the Self Defense Force. In recent years the SDF has expanded its role and taken on some new functions and roles, due to world events and the evolution of Japanese security policy. The elevation of the National Defense Agency to become the Ministry of Defense in 2007 exemplified this trend. Behind the scenes, organizational changes have led to more involvement by uniformed SDF officers in the security policy decision-making process, arguably a fundamental change in Japan's distinctive pattern of civilian control of the military.

Simon looks at these developments from an institutional angle. In particular, he is interested in the self-perceptions and preferences of SDF officers, as they have been shaped by these developments, and as they shape institutions. One question is the extent to which the SDF sees itself as a new and confident player in the framework of Japanese security policy. He is interviewing uniformed officers, bureaucrats, and politicians, as well as tracing institutional change through documents.

Guests are always welcome. I appreciate hearing if you are coming but it isn't necessary.

John Campbell

jc

*Meetings of the Shaken Social Science Dissertation Workshop start at 12 pm and go to 1:30 and sometimes beyond. The Institute of Social Science provides coffee and tea and you are welcome to bring lunch.
Because our usual rooms are busy on September 27, we will meet instead in Room 107, on the ground floor of the Shaken main building. We will have signs. Go straight from Akamon to the end of the street, go left, first door on left. It is Bldg 26 on this map:

http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/about/documents/Hongo_Campu
sMap_E.pdf