Dear SSJ-forum,

 

I hope this email finds you well.

 

We would like to announce a few of our upcoming events on SSJ-Forum if possible. I have copied the details of each event below. Please don't hesitate to reach out in case you have any questions related to the events.

 

Title: Valérie Niquet: The Indo-Pacific in the center of the world 

Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Venue: Temple University, Japan Campus

Registration: https://tuj.libcal.com/event/5734295

Overview:

Valérie Niquet will discuss her latest publication on the Indo Pacific during a chat with Robert Dujarric, followed by a discussion with the audience.

In the space of a decade, the Indo-Pacific concept has established itself as a key area for the interactions of China, the United States, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the countries of Southeast Asia, not to mention France, the world's second-largest maritime power through its overseas territories.

The Indo-Pacific reflects the tipping point at the beginning of the 21st century. Once a passageway and point of contact between civilizations, it is now - from the Horn of Africa to the West American coast - a major geostrategic challenge. An economic engine driven by China's ambitions and the maritimization of the world, this zone accounts for 90% of container transport, with its resources and opportunities, but also its major rivalries. These tensions are strongly linked to competition between powers, to Xi Jinping's territorial claims, notably on Taiwan and in the China Sea, to climate change, but also to illegal fishing, piracy and the many forms of trafficking that develop there.

 

Title: Paul Sracic: US-Japan relations and US Asia policy after the US and Japanese elections

Date: Friday, November 15, 2024

Venue: Temple University, Japan Campus

Registration: https://tuj.libcal.com/event/5737783

Overview:

On 5 November, US voters will go to the polls to elect a new president and, on 27 October, Japanese will  vote to select members of the Lower House of the Diet.  Additionally, control of both chambers of the US Congress hangs in the balance. As the recent controversy over Nippon Steel's efforts to acquire US Steel show, the dynamics of the election raise questions about the future of the United States and its relations with Japan.  In addition, Professor Paul Sracic will be joining us to provide an overview of the elections results and what they might mean for both the future of US politics and for U.S.-Japan relations.

 

 

Title: ICAS: Stories of Indian Migrants in Japan: Adapting, Facing Challenges, and Finding Success

Date: Thursday, November 28, 2024

Venue: Temple University, Japan Campus & on Zoom

Registration: https://tuj.libcal.com/event/5733101

Overview:

This talk will look into the contemporary migration trends of Indians to Japan, focusing on the factors influencing their migration and settlement patterns. As of December 2023, the population of Indians in Japan was recorded at 48,835 according to the Immigration Services Agency. With Japan's ageing population creating a demand for migrants and the country increasingly looking to India to fulfill this need, this study asks whether Indians are also looking towards opportunities in Japan or choosing to go back to 'booming' India.

The talk will explore the dynamics of who migrates, who stays, and who returns, and the underlying reasons for these choices. It will also look into whether government policies, including recent changes in visa regulations, significantly impact these migration trends. The research investigates these three aspects of migration by analysing narratives from around 56 Indians in Japan whom the speaker has been following since 2007, 2013, and 2021 - long stayers and new migrants in Japan, and returnees in India. 

 

Title: ICAS: Modern Warfare: The Evolution of International Humanitarian Law and Mass Atrocity Investigations from Yugoslavia to Myanmar

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024

Venue: Temple University, Japan Campus

Registration: https://tuj.libcal.com/event/5733102

Overview:

Despite the significant time gap between the Yugoslav Wars and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, striking parallels and contrasts exist in the nature of the conflicts and the international responses to them. This lecture will delve into these aspects, focusing on the application and challenges of international criminal and humanitarian law across both cases.

In our exploration of the Yugoslav Wars, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we will delve into the deeply personal and brutal nature of the conflict, where ethnic and nationalistic tensions escalated to the point where former work colleagues, classmates, and neighbors turned violently against one another. This seminar will highlight specific incidents where these devastating transformations occurred, illustrating the complexity and tragedy of civil conflict. Additionally, we will address the significant challenges faced in gathering reliable evidence due to the limitations of the era's investigative technologies. The reliability of eyewitness testimonies was often compromised by hearsay and errors in identifying perpetrators, with some witnesses mistakenly placing individuals at crime scenes when verifiable evidence indicated their presence elsewhere. These factors underscore the difficulties in achieving accurate and just outcomes in post-conflict investigations.

In contrast, the Myanmar section will address the complex political history leading up to the current conflict, including the discovery of oil and its exacerbation of the resource curse, the significant role played by external influences including colonial powers, and the controversial leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi. The impact of modern technology on human rights abuses and investigations, such as the use of social media platforms like Facebook in spreading hate speech and the international critique of such platforms, will be highlighted.

Both situations reveal how advances in technology and international scrutiny have evolved, offering new tools and challenges in the pursuit of justice. The seminar will compare how historical contexts shaped the conflicts and explore the ongoing international efforts to prosecute perpetrators through entities like the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and initiatives by the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning Myanmar.

Participants will gain a nuanced understanding of how global dynamics, technological advancements, and resource politics influence the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity, alongside the enduring need for effective international mechanisms to address these grave violations.

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Sincerely

 

Evelyn Farlov

Executive Coordinator

Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies (ICAS),

Temple University, Japan Campus | Temple Educational Support Services, Ltd

1-14-29 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0004 Japan

Email: evelyn.farlov@tuj.temple.edu | www.tuj.ac.jp/icas   

Work: +(81)-3-5441-9800 | Cell: +(81)-80-9524-6182