OSAKA UNIVERSITY SHORT-TERM STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM _

04s-10
JAPAN: SOCIETY AND IDEOLOGY

Sachihiko KONDO (International Student Center)

Objective
This class explores the relationship between the modern Japanese social structure and the modern Japanese ideology, which determines the life of ordinary democratic minded people. This lecture is, in other words, designed for those who wish to learn how Japanese people accommodate other members of society and contemporary Japanese society. Ideology has tended to be thought as a political matter. However, from a social psychological and sociological point of views, we need to think about what determines our everyday lives. Through detailed examinations of Japanese history, culture, religion, language, media and up-to-date social issues, students will formulate ideas on how 'ideology ' has worked to support modern 'democracy', even some of the social structures seem to be problematic. Those who wish to discuss 'democracy', 'conservatism', 'egalitarianism', 'liberalism', 'freedom', 'Constitutional monarchy' and modern Japanese history (mainly post-war period) are all welcome.

Readings
Berger, P. L. and Luckmann, T. (1966). The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. New York: Douleday.
Billig, M. (1995). Banal Nationalism. London: Sage..
Billig, M. (1998). Talking of the Royal Family: With New Preface. London: Routledge. Billig, M., Condor, S., Edwards, D., Gane, M., Middleton, D. and Radley, A. (1988). Ideological Dilemmas: A Social Psychology of Everyday Thinking. London: Sage..
Fujitani, T. (1996). Splendid Monarchy: Power and Pageantry in Modern Japan. Berkeley: University of California Press..
Sodei, R. (2001). Dear General MacArthur: Letters from the Japanese during the American Occupation. London: Rowman & Littlefield.
Maruyama, M. (1963). Thought and Behaviour in Modern Japanese Politics. I. Morris trans. Oxford: Oxford University Press..
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*Handouts will be distributed at each lecture..

Grading
Class participation 50%
Examination (Report) 50%