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Subject | International Affairs
Global Governance and International Law for Peace
- International relations
- Human rights
- Environment
- International law
In the current international society, there is no higher authority above sovereign states to regulate their behavior. Therefore, a key challenge for achieving global peace and prosperity is how to restrain the self-interested actions of states and promote international cooperation. International Relations (IR) and International Law are academic fields that have directly addressed this challenge.
This course, delivered in an omnibus format by faculty members of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies who are leading researchers in international law and global governance, provides a concise introduction to essential knowledge and the latest research findings in their respective fields. It focuses particularly on global governance theory, which systematically examines the conditions for interstate cooperation, and aims to help students develop specialized expertise in these areas.
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©Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University. Last Update 2025-10-01
Content／学習内容
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International Relations Theory and Analysis of the War in Ukraine
- Realism
- Liberalism
- Constructivism
- The Russia-Ukraine War
Learn about basics including sovereignty, the Westphalian system, anarchy, realism, liberalism, and constructivism, as well as levels of analysis, and apply them to the analysis of the war in Ukraine.
Videos
／学習動画
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Key Concepts and Levels of Analysis
Learn about basic concepts including sovereignty, the Westphalian system, and anarchy, as well as levels of analysis.
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Basic Theories of IR
Learn about basic theories including realism, liberalism, and constructivism.
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Explaining the Russia-Ukraine War Through Theoretical Perspectives
Learn about the war in Ukraine from perspectives of realism, liberalism, and constructivism.
Lecturers
／講師
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Makiko Nishitani
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Building Blocks of Global Governance
- Hard law and soft law
- International organizations
- Civil society
- Private regimes
Learn about definitions and characteristics of global governance; roles and limitations of international law and soft law; roles of non-state actors including international organizations, civil society, business actors, and private regimes.
Videos
／学習動画
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What is Global Governance?
Learn about definitions, key characteristics, and challenges in global governance.
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International Law and Non-state Actors
Learn about roles and limitations of international law, compliance, soft law, international organizations, and civil society.
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Business Actors and Private Regimes
Learn about multinational corporations in global governance, global efforts to regulate multinational corporations and the rise of private regimes.
Lecturers
／講師
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Makiko Nishitani
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Complexity and Polycentricity of Contemporary Global Governance
- Regime Complexity
- Transgovernmental Networks
- Liquid Authority
- Polycentric Governance
Learn theoretical basics of the complexity and polycentricity of global governance.
Videos
／学習動画
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The Complexity of Issue-areas and Regime Complexity
Learn about non-hierarchical order of issue-areas, conceptualization of regime complexity, and strategic behaviors in regime complexity.
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Transformation of States and Liquid Authority
Learn about transgovernmental networks, the liquid authority and a diversity of power.
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The Polycentric Nature of Governance Systems
Learn about polycentric governance and challenges of global multi-level governance.
Lecturers
／講師
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Makiko Nishitani
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Role of Polycentric Governance: The Future Path of Global Climate Change Governance
- US climate politics
- Biden’s climate policy
- international politics over climate change
- non-state actors
Learn about the polycentricity of global climate governance, the characteristics of Biden government’s climate policies, US climate politics, international politics over climate change, and the role of non-state actors in the US.
Videos
／学習動画
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Polycentricity in Global Climate Change Governance
Learn about the polycentricity in global climate governance; key actors in global climate governance; transformation of multilateralism; and leadership in polycentric governance.
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U.S. Climate Diplomacy and Leadership: Climate Measures Taken by the Biden Administration
Learn about characteristics of Biden’s climate policy; Biden Administration’s climate leadership; and domestic politics surrounding U.S. climate measures.
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American Climate Leadership
Learn about barriers to U.S. climate leadership at intergovernmental level and the success of U.S. non-state actor’s catalytic leadership.
Lecturers
／講師
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Makiko Nishitani
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Human Rights in International Society
- Anarchy
- United Nations
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
We will study how human rights norms have historically developed from the perspective of International Relations.
Videos
／学習動画
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Anarchy as a Fundamental Principle of International Relations
This part identifies anarchy as a foundational concept in International Relations, and explains the tension between the sovereign state system and human rights.
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Historical Development of Human Rights
This part explains how the concept of human rights has developed historically.
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United Nations and Human Rights
This part describes the activities undertaken by the United Nations (UN) in the protection of human rights.
Lecturers
／講師
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Sho Akahoshi
Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Ratification of Human Rights Treaties
- Negotiation
- Domestic Politics
- Norm
We will learn why states ratify human rights treaties despite the costs they incur in implementing them.
Videos
／学習動画
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Costs in Ratifying Human Rights Treaties
This part explains the costs imposed on states when ratifying human rights treaties, such as institution-building and reputational risks.
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Factors Affecting the Ratification of Human Rights Treaties: Power and Interests
This part discusses why states choose to ratify human rights treaties from the perspectives of power and interests.
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Factors Affecting the Ratification of Human Rights Treaties: Norms
This part explains why states choose to ratify human rights treaties from the perspectives of norms.
Lecturers
／講師
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Sho Akahoshi
Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Compliance of Human Rights Treaties
- Domestic Politics
- Transnational Social Movements
- Capacity Building
Even if a state ratifies a human rights treaty, it does not necessarily comply with it. We will learn about the conditions under which states comply with human rights obligations.
Videos
／学習動画
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Compliance Gap of Human Rights Treaties
This part explains the issue of the “compliance gap,” where human rights treaties are not always comply with even after ratification.
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Factors Affecting the Compliance of Human Rights Treaties (1): Power and Interests
This part discusses why states choose to comply with human rights treaties from the perspectives of power and interests.
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Factors Affecting the Compliance of Human Rights Treaties (2): Norms and Capacity
This part explains why states choose to comply with human rights treaties from the perspectives of power and interests.
Lecturers
／講師
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Sho Akahoshi
Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Non-state Actors & Human Rights
- Transnational Advocacy Networks
- Helsinki Final Act
We will understand the roles and impacts of non-state actors, such as NGOs, in promoting human rights.
Videos
／学習動画
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Non-State Actors and Human Rights
This part explains the roles of non-state actors (NGOs, corporations) in human rights protection.
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Transnational Advocacy Networks
This part describes the characteristics and strategies of Transnational Advocacy Networks, where NGOs collaborate across borders to address global issues, including human rights protection.
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Case: Helsinki Final Act
This part illustrates the roles and influence of non-state actors in human rights protection using the Helsinki Final Act as a case study.
Lecturers
／講師
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Sho Akahoshi
Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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International Law: Basic Tools and Concepts
- enforcement
- compliance
- sources
- treaties
As an introductory session to the latter half of “International Law and Global Governance for Peace”, students learn a few basic tools and concepts of international law, such as states and sources of international law.
Videos
／学習動画
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How does international law work?
Compelling compliance (enforcement) and inducing compliance are two ways in which rules can be realized in international law. How international law works is explained, mainly in comparison with national law.
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Sources: treaties (and custom)
One of the main sources of international law, treaties, together with the rules governing their operation, are presented (Custom, the other main sources of international law, is explained at the beginning of Part 3).
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States as main actors of international law
States as the unique subjects of international law and the main actors in the context are studied.
Lecturers
／講師
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Mika Hayashi
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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International law for conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes
- arms control
- peaceful settlement of disputes
- International Court of Justice
- nuclear weapons
Students will acquire knowledge of basic concepts and tools of international law.
Videos
／学習動画
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Disarmament and International Law
The overview of the treaties regulating specific types of weapons as well as the Arms Trade Treaty is given. It is followed by a short discussion of nuclear disarmament and international law.
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Peaceful Settlement of Disputes: The International Court of Justice
The working of the International Court of Justice is studied as an example of a possible pathway to a peaceful settlement of disputes.
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Nuclear Weapons in the International Court of Justice
Students are introduced to three cases regarding nuclear weapons that were handled by the International Court of Justice.
Lecturers
／講師
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Mika Hayashi
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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International law and wars
- right of self-defence
- international humanitarian law
Students learn about the prohibition of use of force under the UN System. Students are also introduced to international humanitarian law, applicable in times of armed conflict.
Videos
／学習動画
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Regulating use of force
The prohibition of unilateral use of force in the U.N. Charter, with a focus on the role of the Security Council, is described.
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Right to self-defence
The right of self-defence, an explicit exception to the prohibition of unilateral use of force in the UN Charter, is explained. Its contemporary challenges are discussed.
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International humanitarian law (IHL)
The prohibition of the use of force does not mean there are no wars. International humanitarian law (IHL), applicable in times of armed conflict, is presented.
Lecturers
／講師
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Mika Hayashi
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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Global Environmental Problems and International Legal Responses: An Introduction
- climate change
- international cooperation
- international environmental law
This introductory lecture describes the nature of global environmental problems, such climate change and biodiversity loss, and explains the need for international cooperation and legal responses. It then describes the history and basic structure of international environmental law
Videos
／学習動画
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Global Environmental Problems Today
This lecture describes the nature of global environmental problems with scientific evidence behind them, taking the examples from climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean change.
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Need of International Cooperation and Legal Responses
This lecture examines the importance of international cooperation to address global environmental problems and functions of international law to enable such international cooperation.
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Basics of International Environmental Law
This lecture examines the historical development of international environmental law and its basic structure, such as their sources and functions.
Lecturers
／講師
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Akiho Shibata
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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International Legal Responses to Climate Change
- UNFCCC
- Kyoto Protocol
- Paris Agreement
This lecture describes the importance as well as difficulties of international legal responses to address the climate change, and examines the development of climate change regime, from 1992 UNFCCC, 1997 Kyoto Protocol and 2015 Paris Agreement.
Videos
／学習動画
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Climate Change: Challenges for Global Community
This lecture describes again the nature of climate change and the challenges it poses, and examines why scientific evidence on climate change has not sufficiently been translated into climate policy decisions by the governments.
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Development of the Climate Change Regime
This lecture describes briefly the historical development of the climate change regime, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol.
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Paris Agreement
This lecture examines the key features of the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) expressed under it.
Lecturers
／講師
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Akiho Shibata
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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International Legal Responses to Biodiversity Loss
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Cartagena Protocol
- Nagoya Protocol
This lecture describes the concept of biodiversity and the importance of its conservation, and examines the development of a legal regime under the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It then examines how the CBD legal regime has been addressing biotechnology through Cartagena Protocol (2000) and Nagoya Protocol (2010).
Videos
／学習動画
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Biodiversity Loss: Response from Global Community
This lecture describes again the nature of biodiversity loss and how the international community has been addressing it, and examines the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework and its 2030 targets.
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CBD Legal Regime: Legal response to biodiversity loss
This lecture describes the concept of biodiversity and the importance of its conservation, and examines the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) in addressing the biodiversity loss.
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Biotechnology and International Law
This lecture examines the CBD legal regime relating to biotechnology, namely the Cartagena Protocol addressing the living modified organisms (LMOs) and Nagoya Protocol addressing the genetic resources.
Lecturers
／講師
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Akiho Shibata
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
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International Protection of Polar Environments
- Arctic
- Antarctic Treaty
- Madrid Protocol
- Arctic Council
This lecture describes the importance of protecting the polar environments in the Antarctic and Arctic and examines the unique nature and developments in international legal and normative developments of their fragile environments.
Videos
／学習動画
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Polar Environments: Amplified changes with global threats
This lecture describes the physical changes in the polar environments in the Antarctic and Arctic regions with amplified effects of climate change, as well as geopolitical tensions affecting international cooperation in the polar regions.
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Antarctic Environmental Protection: High ideals with implementation challenges
This lecture describes the international legal protection of the Antarctic environment under 1959 Antarctic Treaty and 1991 Madrid Protocol as well as implementation challenges today.
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Arctic Environmental Protection: Urgent actions through soft governance
This lecture examines the Arctic Council as a soft environmental governance forum and international legal and normative developments to protect the fragile Arctic environment.
Lecturers
／講師
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Akiho Shibata
Professor, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
Staff／スタッフ
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Makiko NishitaniKobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation StudiesProfessorCareerArea of expertise: International Relations
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Makiko NishitaniKobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation StudiesProfessorCareer
Area of Expertise: International Relations
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Sho AkahoshiKobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation StudiesAssociate ProfessorCareer
Major: International Relations; International Organizations; Global Governance
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Mika HayashiKobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation StudiesProfessorCareer
Major: International Law
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Akiho ShibataKobe University Graduate School of International Cooperation StudiesProfessorCareer
LL.M. from Kyoto University (1992) and New York University (1993)
Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Okayama University, 1995-2005
Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (2001-2010)
Professor of International Law, GSICS, Kobe University, 2005- present
Director, Polar Cooperation Research Centre (PCRC), Kobe University, 2015 – present
Competency／コンピテンシー
Course Objectives
This course examines the current state and challenges of global governance for the promotion of peace, from both international political and legal perspectives. It is designed to equip students with foundational knowledge in these fields, as well as the ability to formulate effective policy proposals.
The course also aims to cultivate future leaders—particularly from ASEAN countries—who will pursue advanced expertise in international relations and international law by studying and building careers in Japan. These individuals are expected to take initiative in forming cooperative networks between Japan and their home countries, addressing shared challenges with a global perspective and high-level professional competence.
Learning Outcomes
To meet the learning objectives of this course, students are expected to achieve the following competencies:
1) Understand the fundamental concepts of global governance and its associated challenges.
2) Understand the characteristics of the sovereign state system and the reasons why promoting human rights within this system is difficult.
3) Gain a basic understanding of international law and the issues it faces.
4) Understand the nature of global environmental problems and the legal approaches to addressing them under international law.
Information／その他の情報
References
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Nye, Joseph S., Jr., and David A. Welch. Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation: An Introduction to Theory and History. 10th ed. Pearson, 2017.
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CIRI Human Rights Dataset, Version 2013.04.1 [http://www.humanrightsdata.com].
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Risse, T., Ropp, S.C, and Sikkink, K. (2013) The Persistent Power of Human Rights: From Commitment to Compliance. Cambridge University Press.
Simmons, Beth A. (2009) Mobilizing Human Rights: International Law in Domestic Politics. Cambridge University Press.
Bang, Guri, Arild Unedrdal, Steiner Andresen, The Domestic Politics of Global Climate Change: Key Actors in International Climate Cooperation, Edward Elger Publishing, 2015.
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Hale, Thomas, “Climate Change: From Gridlock to Catalyst,” in Hale, Thomas and David Held (eds), Beyond Gridlock, Polity Press, 2017, pp.184-204.
Jordan, Andrew, Dave Huitema, Harro Van Asselt, and Johanna Forster, eds. Governing climate change: Polycentricity in action?. Cambridge University Press, 2018.
Falkner, Robert, “The Paris Agreement and the New Logic of International Climate Politics,” International Affairs, 92(5), 2016, pp.1107–1125.
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Nishitani, Makiko, “Tachushintekina kiko-hendo gabanansu ni okeru amerika no kokusai kyocho gaiko” (“American cooperative diplomacy in polycentric global climate governance”) in Sahashi, Ryo and Kazuto Suzuki (eds), Joe Biden’s Foreign Policy and His Vision, University of Tokyo Press, 2022, pp.89-106. (In Japanese)
Keohane, Robert O., and Joseph S. Nye Jr. Power and Interdependence. Little Brown, 1977.
Keohane, Robert O. and David G. Victor, “The Regime Complex for Climate Change,” Perspectives on Politics, 9(1), 2011, pp.7-23.
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Risse, Thomas, Stephen C. Ropp, and Kathryn Sikkink. (1999) The Power of Human Rights: International Norms and Domestic Change. Cambridge University Press.
Risse, Thomas, Stephen C. Ropp, and Kathryn Sikkink. (2013) The Persistent Power of Human Rights: From Commitment to Compliance. Cambridge University Press.
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Contact／お問合せ先
Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University
Contact for JV-Campus contents.
Email: gsics-jvc@office.kobe-u.ac.jp
