The Social Science Dissertation Workshop, sponsored by the Institute of Social Science at Tokyo University, is a monthly session to discuss projects being carried out by younger social scientists. The discussion generally focuses on research design as well as findings. We meet next on March 27.* Presenting is Ray Yamamoto, a political scientist doing a dissertation in Japanese studies at Hamburg U.

His topic is "Japan's Official Development Assistance:
Strategies in Changing National and Global Contexts."
ODA has long been seen as a key component in Japanese foreign policy, and its spending rose steadily until 1996, but the trend since then has been downward. Ray asks how changes in the domestic and international contexts explain the shift. He seeks answers by looking through the lenses of international relations theories (realism, liberalism, constructivism) to focus on the key elements of ODA policy: national security, economy and philanthropy. He also draws on archival resources and interviews for "process tracing" to see how the key decisions came about.

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

John Campbell

*Meetings of the Shaken Social Science Dissertation Workshop start at 12 pm on Thursdays and go to 1:30 and sometimes beyond. The Institute of Social Science provides coffee and tea and you are welcome to bring lunch. The location is room 533 on the 5th floor in the Akamon General Research (Sougou Kenkyuu) Building. The building is off to the right after you come through Akamon, or you can cut through the grounds of Ito Hall off Hongou Doori. It is Bldg 38 on this map:

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