One of the elements that have often been neglected in the study of foreign policy is the role of norms and ideas. While human rights standards were formalized and became to be recognized as an international norm, it is still not clear whether or how human rights affect the foreign policy of specific states. In the case of Japan, its foreign policy is often characterized by hesitance to take decisive action for human rights and its dictation by economic interest. In this paper the influnece of human rights on Japanese foreign policy is examined through the study of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Japanese politics, as new political actors that speak for the norm of international human rights in Japanese politics. Japanese NGOs have achieved a dramatic development in the 1980s and 1990s, and today they are recognized as important entities in Japanese society. NGOs adopt various strategies and tactics to influnence Japan s decision making in foreign policy to challenge the political environment that consists of Japan s hesitance in the area of human rights and the strong influence of the business sector. Case studies examine active NGOs networks in Japan that work for human rights and democracy in East Timor and Burma and include an in-depth analysis of their operation styles, foci, and organizations. / Master of Arts

Pflum, Dorina (2021). Self-identity and Agenda of Environmental Civil Organisations within the Hungarian Political Context  Human Geography advanced level, master thesis for master exam in Human Geography, 30 ECTS credits  Supervisor: Lowe Börjeson Language: English Key words: identity, post-environmentalism, post-socialism, civil movements, environmentalism. The research presents a case study of Hungarian environmental civil organisations, highlighting particularities of a post-soviet trajectory and nationalistic discourse hostile to the civil sector. The aims of the research are to establish how organisations formulate their agenda and representation, and how they position themselves in the socio-political context. My research questions explored 1) What role do environmental civil organisations play in the sustainability discourse of Hungary and how that changed since 1989? 2) How do the current government’s attitude and activity impact the work of the organisations? 3) How do different organisations construct their identity? Utilising a constructivist approach with qualitative methodology, I conducted 11 interviews with members of 4 organisations. Reflecting on the ideas of postenvironmentalism, I found that the hostility of the government constricts the reinvention of an efficient movement but prompts the organisations to take an innovative approach. However, most changes are involuntary, reacting to external pressures and more deliberate planning is needed.

2019年2月22日、ブテフリカが5年連続出馬を決めたことを受け、アルジェリア人は不在の大統領の退陣を求め、街頭に立った。この革命は、運動と訳されるヒラクとして知られるようになった。2019年のアルジェリアのヒラクは、この国の歴史と対照的なだけでなく、この地域の中でもユニークである。実際、この運動は文献やジャーナリストによって、新奇なものであると評されている。その主な特徴は、その人気、平和主義、市民主義であり、正式な代表を持たず、第三セクターが存在しない中で達成されたものである。ヒラクは地域的な傾向とどのように対比されるのか、そして最も重要なことは、アルジェリア自身の社会的・政治的運動や革命の歴史とどのように対比されるのかということである。どのようにして暴力に対抗することができたのか。また、なぜチュニジアのように市民社会が、エジプトのように政党が代表するのではなかったのだろうか。 / In February 22, 2019, following Bouteflika's decision to run for a fifth consecutive mandate, Algerians took to the streets demanding their absent president to step down. This revolution became known as the hirak which translates to movement. Via an extensive literature review on this topic a recurring element has been highlighted; the 2019 Algerian hirak is unique not only in contrast to the country's history but also within the region. Indeed, the movement has been described by literature and journalists as a novelty. Its main characteristics are its popularity, pacifism and civism, which was achieved without formal representation and in the absence of a third sector. This research's main center of interest are these particularities: how does the Hirak contrasts with regional trends and most importantly how does it contrast with Algeria's own history of social and political movements and revolutions? How did it remain resilient to violence? How did it build such a magnitude and why wasn't it represented by civil society as was the case in Tunisia nor by a political party as was the case for Egypt? / 博士(グローバル社会研究) / Doctor of Philosophy in Global Society Studies / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University