Division of Global Area Studies

Asian and African countries have undergone huge transformations in the last few decades under the impact of globalization. These social, economic, political and environmental changes, in particular, have given rise to a number of research opportunities and academic challenges. These include having to deal with issues of environmental degradation, possibilities for evolving sustainable development agendas, mitigating poverty, and initiating dialogues to overcome regional conflicts.

The Division of Global Area Studies offers programs of study designed to encourage students to conduct research into themes and topics that are relevant to both understanding these global contexts that drive radical change and contribute, as well, to offering solutions. The main focus of our approach lies in transcending national boundaries by instead exploring large interconnected ecological, cultural and political blocs such as the Islamic world, South Asia, or the world of the Indian Ocean.

 

1: Peaceful coexistence and Humanosphere:

This research class will explore from various perspectives how communities and populations in Asia and Africa cope with conflicts and wars. It will also examine how strategies for peaceful coexistence and sustainable livelihoods can be achieved (a sustainable “humanosphere”), given in particular the many challenges posed by globalization.

Kazuya NAKAMIZO

E-mail: nakamizo@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My research topic is to explore the possibilities for democracy in solving poverty and violence. Under this theoretical framework, I have been working on Indian politics, especially focusing on Bihar, which is well-known for poverty and violence within India. Recently I have begun to work on the impact of globalization, that is, new forms of widening disparity and the realization of peace and coexistence, by conducting field work in all regions of India and South Asia.

[Theory of Peace and Coexistence, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site SeminarⅠ -Ⅲ, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

Shinsuke NAGAOKA

E-mail: nagaoka@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have been focusing on Islamic finance, which first emerged in the Middle East in the 1970s and which is currently spreading globally with rapid growth. My main research insterst is to clarify the unique characteristics of the concepts and philosophies of Islamic economics, which underlie the practices of Islamic finance, adopting the methodology of economics (in the broadest sense). Based on my research, I will reconsider economic theory, economic history, and economic thought from the perspective of Islamic economics and finance, in order to take a critical look at the essence of the capitalist system generated by Western modernization.

[Sustainable Humanosphere in Arid Areas, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Guided Research on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅲ , Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar Ⅰ-Ⅲ, Study of the Islamic World I-Ⅱ, Islamic Society and Economics I, Introduction to Area Studies Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

D’Souza, Rohan

E-mail: rohand@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My initial teaching and research efforts were aimed at exploring themes in environmental history. In particular, I looked at late nineteenth and early twentieth century water management and flood control histories in South Asia. Pursuing these concerns, however, also involved engaging with several lively contemporary debates on large dams and questioning the agreed wisdom on notions such as development, environmentalism and sustainability. My research themes have since then been further broadened with explorations in linked conceptual puzzles such as modern technology, the origins of modern science, policy making, political ecology, security studies and inevitably climate change anxieties. In effect, such a collection of overlapping research and teaching themes have helped set up my current engagements with the idea of ‘sustainable humanosphere’: aspects, processes and elements that are critical to sustaining human societies and their environs.

[Sustainable Humanosphere and the environment, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar Ⅰ-Ⅲ, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies

Yasuyuki KONO

E-mail: kono@cseas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My research covers contemporary issues to do with coexistence of agricultural production and environmental conservation, and with effective management of increasingly scarce land and water resources in rural villages in Southeast Asia, looking into a variety of aspects, including the environment, economic systems, political systems, and administrative and agricultural organizations. In addition to using conventional fieldwork methods, I have also been experimenting with the introduction of innovative computer-related data gathering and analysis methods in Area Studies that use GIS and remote-sensing.

[An Interdisciplinary Approach to Sustainable Humanosphere, Development and Ecology, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Guided Research on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅲ , Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar Ⅰ- Ⅲ , Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

Marie SATO

E-mail: msato@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have been focusing on Islamic NGOs and humanosphere among refugees in the Middle East, especially Jordan. My main research interest is to clarify the unique characteristic of concepts and practices of Islamic NGOs and to explore urban structure where host a large number of refugees. It is also my theme to explore the mechanism of authoritarian monarchy. Recently I have begun to work on the transnational movement of Islamic NGOs and its global networking.

[Peace and War in the Middle East, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ-Ⅳ, Guided Research on Global Area StudiesⅠ -Ⅲ, Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site SeminarⅠ -Ⅲ, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

 

2: Islamic World Studies:

Comprehensive research into the unity and diversity of the Islamic world, the thought, history and contemporary society of the regions that belong to the Islamic world, and a number of issues shared across several regions, including those relating to Islam in the countries of Western Europe and North America.

Yasushi TONAGA

E-mail: tonaga@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have been engaging in philological research of Islamic thought, especially Sufism, focusing on the Arab and Turkish worlds. My research, much of it based on on-site investigations, encompasses a wide variety of subjects, from highly sophisticated speculative philosophy to popular reverence for walī as a means of obtaining profit in the present world.

[Study of the Islamic World Ⅰ-Ⅱ, Sufism and Tariqa Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Asian and African Sufi Studies, Persian Ⅰ, Turkish I, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Guided Research on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅲ , Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar Ⅰ- Ⅲ , Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

Shinsuke NAGAOKA

E-mail: nagaoka@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have been focusing on Islamic finance, which first emerged in the Middle East in the 1970s and which is currently spreading globally with rapid growth. My main research insterst is to clarify the unique characteristics of the concepts and philosophies of Islamic economics, which underlie the practices of Islamic finance, adopting the methodology of economics (in the broadest sense). Based on my research, I will reconsider economic theory, economic history, and economic thought from the perspective of Islamic economics and finance, in order to take a critical look at the essence of the capitalist system generated by Western modernization.

[Sustainable Humanosphere in Arid Areas, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Guided Research on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅲ , Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar Ⅰ-Ⅲ, Study of the Islamic WorldⅠ -Ⅱ, Islamic Society and EconomicsⅠ , Introduction to Area Studies Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies

Chika OBIYA

E-mail: obiya@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have been interested in the former Soviet Central Asia, especially Uzbekistan, researching the modern and contemporary history of this region in relationship with the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. My specific research topics include Central Asia under Russian imperial rule, Central Asia and the Russian revolution, national delimitation in Central Asia under Soviet rule, Soviet modernization in Central Asia, and nationalism in contemporary Uzbekistan. In recent years, I have been also interested in preservation, sharing, and effective use of rare documents for Central Asian area studies.

[Central Asian Area Studies, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Guided Research on Global Area Studies Ⅰ-Ⅲ, Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar Ⅰ – Ⅲ , Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

Tatsuya NAKANISHI

E-mail:nakanishi.tatsuya.7s@k [add “kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have studied Hui Muslims’ (Chinese-speaking Muslims) intellectual activities by investigating Chinese, Arabic, and Persian historical sources. Particularly, my research explored how the Hui scholars have negotiated their religious belief and practice with non-Muslim Chinese people. More recently, I have been grappling with how the Hui scholars after the 19th century responded to new Islamic ideas, such as thoughts of Ibn ̆Arabī, Ibn Taymiyya, Aｈ・mad Sirhindī, and their proponents, from various regions of the Muslim world.

[Asian and African Sufi Studies, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies Ⅰ- Ⅳ , Guided Research on Global Area StudiesⅠ- Ⅲ , Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site SeminarⅠ- Ⅲ , Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

 

3: South Asian and Indian Ocean Area Studies:

Research into the various issues that are particular to South Asia, and issues across the Indian Ocean Area centered on South Asia, or between two or more regions in the area

Tatsuro FUJIKURA

E-mail: fujikura@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have been conducting anthropological research on the process of modernization in Nepal. In particular, I have discussed the question of how people’s sense of agency has been transformed through the practices of development and national education, and how unexpected social movements (such as violent revolutionary movements and bonded agricultural laborers’ freedom movement) have occurred as a result.

[South Asian Area Studies I-II, South Asian Area Studies and Cultural Theories, Reading in Nepali I-II, Training on Research Presentation I-II, International Research-Group Program for Graduate Students, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on Global Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

Kazuya NAKAMIZO

E-mail: nakamizo@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My research topic is to explore the possibilities for democracy in solving poverty and violence. Under this theoretical framework, I have been working on Indian politics, especially focusing on Bihar, which is well-known for poverty and violence within India. Recently I have begun to work on the impact of globalization, that is, new forms of widening disparity and the realization of peace and coexistence, by conducting field work in all regions of India and South Asia.

[Politics in Souch Asia, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on Global Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

D’Souza, Rohan

E-mail: rohand@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My initial teaching and research efforts were aimed at exploring themes in environmental history. In particular, I looked at late nineteenth and early twentieth century water management and flood control histories in South Asia. Pursuing these concerns, however, also involved engaging with several lively contemporary debates on large dams and questioning the agreed wisdom on notions such as development, environmentalism and sustainability. My research themes have since then been further broadened with explorations in linked conceptual puzzles such as modern technology, the origins of modern science, policy making, political ecology, security studies and inevitably climate change anxieties. In effect, such a collection of overlapping research and teaching themes have helped set up my current engagements with the idea of ‘sustainable humanosphere’: aspects, processes and elements that are critical to sustaining human societies and their environs.

[Sustainable Humanosphere and the environment, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on Global Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on Global Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]

Aya IKEGAME

E-mail: ikegame.aya.5u@ [add “kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My research focuses on the multiple structures of power and authority from the late nineteenth century to the present day, using the methods of longterm fieldwork and historical research, in the state of Karnataka, South India. I have studied the various cultural and political challenges facing the Mysore royal family under British colonial rule, the religious leaders (gurus) at the centre of governance in the rural areas of Karnataka, and the self-affirmation movements of the former untouchables, the Dalits. More recently, I have begun to explore the new forms of labour and economy (the gig economy) that are emerging through digital technologies.

[South Asian Area Studies I-II, South Asian Area Studies and Cultural Theories , Research Seminar on Global Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on Global Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on Global Area Studies, Global Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies]