Global and Japanese Political Economy 1 Global and Japanese Political Economy 1

【授業の目標 / Course Objectives】

To put it simply, the goal of this course is for students to gain a fundamental understanding of—and, ideally, a lasting interest in—the too-often overlooked role of materials in the contemporary economy and geopolitics. That objective might seem difficult to prospective students, but I urge you to refer to the very positive student evaluations from last year. As an academic, I understand that critical minerals seem obscure. So I frame the course content in terms of trilemmas and tradeoffs. These frameworks help us compare Japan and other industrialized countries' challenges and policies concerning copper, lithium, rare earths and other critical minerals. The course uses the most reliable, readily understandable, and recent written and visual sources to portray the fascinating importance of critical minerals in clean energy and decarbonization, AI chips and datacentres, defence technologies, and economic development. We examine the key data on demand and supply, and study the limits of ongoing policy measures undertaken by Japan and other countries (including students' home countries). So part of our learning in this course is how to apply critical thinking skills to often confusing and contradictory sources of information.

【授業の内容 / Course Contents】

This course compares Japan and other industrialized countries' increasingly difficult challenges and desperate policies concerning copper, lithium, rare earths and other critical minerals. These minerals are essential to clean energy and decarbonization, in addition to myriad other high-technology applications in aerospace, health care, and national defence. The current and likely future demand for many of these materials exceeds existing supply capacities, resulting in worsening geopolitical instability and necessitating costly and difficult countermeasures.

【授業計画 / Course Schedule】

【活用される授業方法 / Teaching Methods Used】

板書 /Writing on the Board
スライド（パワーポイント等）の使用 /Slides (PowerPoint, etc.)
上記以外の視聴覚教材の使用 /Audiovisual Materials Other than Those Listed Above
個人発表 /Individual Presentations
グループ発表 /Group Presentations
ディスカッション・ディベート /Discussion/Debate
実技・実習・実験 /Practicum/Experiments/Practical Training
学内の教室外施設の利用 /Use of On-Campus Facilities Outside the Classroom
校外実習・フィールドワーク /Field Work
上記いずれも用いない予定 /None of the above

【授業時間外（予習・復習等）の学修 / Study Required Outside of Class】

Brief readings and video clips will be assigned. The readings and visuals are carefully selected for their ease of understanding, credibility, and usefulness in illustrating each week's theme issue.

【成績評価方法・基準 / Evaluation】

【テキスト / Textbooks】

【参考文献 / Readings】

【履修にあたって求められる能力 / Abilities Required to Take the Course】

To follow the lectures and material, you need at least intermediate-level English skills. But you do not need a background in materials and global political economy to learn a lot, as previous years' student evaluations demonstrate.

【学生が準備すべき機器等 / Equipment, etc., that Students Should Prepare】

None.

【その他 / Others】

There are plenty of readings and visuals, but the instructor will select the most relevant passages/data and introduce them during the lectures. The weekly lessons include a lot of video clips as well, to enhance students' understanding of the enormity of the "material world" and how it is mined, refined, and turned into the devices we take for granted. All that is required is students' regular attendance, attention, and willingness to discuss each week's essential points.

【注意事項 / Notice】

・F科目中級（外国語による総合系科目）
・他に特別外国人学生が履修
・この授業は英語で実施する
・履修者はTOEIC®L&R 550点相当以上の英語力を有することが望ましい
・多彩な学び科目