HISTORY OF RELATIONS BETWEEN EUROPE AND JAPAN

The course is among the Basic Educational Activities of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Language, Civilisation and the Science of Language, curriculum International politics. By providing students with foundational knowledge on the role played by Europe in the process of modernization and transformation of Japan into a modern nation-state, as well as in the adoption of Western system of international relations, capitalistic practices and idea of civilization, this course aims to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the relationships of Europe with the non-Western world in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as to provide them with the necessary analytical tools to reflect upon, understand and evaluate the meanings and implications of using alleged universal standards to measure the degree of modernity and civilization of non-Western societies.

The course aims at the following learning goals:
a) knowledge and understanding of the development of European colonialism in Asia, the political and cultural stakes in exportation and reception of the western European model of modernization in East Asian societies with a focus on Japan, and notions and narratives of modernity;
b) to understand the significance of a historical perspective for contemporary issues, and to apply historical knowledge to analyzing and historicizing current events;
c) to critically evaluate the core topics of the course through analysis of different sources and classroom discussion;
d) to promote communication abilities by offering the opportunity of proposing classroom presentations on a volunteer basis.

Basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history.

The main topics of the course are:
- phases and faces of European colonialism in Asia;
- colonialism and civilizing mission;
- roots and effects of the First Opium War;
- Europe and the modernization of Japan;
- modernity and identity in Japan;
- categories and narratives of modernity;
- legacies of European colonialism in East Asia.

Enrica Collotti Pischel, Storia dell'Asia Orientale, Carocci, 2008, capp. 1, 2 and 4.
Rosa Caroli, Francesco Gatti, Storia del Giappone, Laterza, Bari 2017, capp. 4 and 5.
Collotti Pischel E., Considerazioni su colonialismo e razzismo, Università di Milano, Facoltà di scienze politiche, Istituto di diritto e politica internazionale, Milano 1995, 55 pp.

One among the following articles /chapters:
Graeme J. N. Gooday; Morris F. Low, “Technology Transfer and Cultural Exchange: Western Scientists and Engineers Encounter Late Tokugawa and Meiji Japan”, in Osiris, vol. 13, 1998, pp. 99–128 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/301880 )
Hazel J. Jones, “The Formulation of the Meiji Government Policy Toward the Employment of Foreigners”, in Monumenta Nipponica, vol. 23, n. 1/2 (1968), pp. 9-30 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2383106 )
Kristin Meißner, “Responsivity within the Context of Informal Imperialism”, in Journal of Modern European History, Vol. 14, No. 2 (2016), pp. 268-289 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/26266239?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents )

The oral examination aims to verify the student’s knowledge of the themes addressed in the texts listed in the bibliography and discussed during the course, as well as his/her ability to communicate clearly and effectively and to make appropriate use of historical terminology.
It consists of three questions:
1) a theme/topic chosen by the student, aiming at testing his/her ability to (a) put the issue in its proper historical contex and (b) develop and articulate a coherent historical narrative;
2) a question aiming at verifying his/her ability to (a) connect historical events and processes to specific circumstances of time and place as well as to broader processes occurring at the same time and (b) to make appropriate use of historical terminology, sources and methodologies;
3) a question aiming at verifying his/her ability to consciously apply the acquired knowledge in analyzing contemporary issues related to Europe’s political and cultural relations with non-Western societies.

Frontal lesson, PowerPoint, online sources, joint discussions and seminars with students' presentations.

Italian

The Disabled Students Service with the fundamental support of tutors offers several services throughout university studies, both for prospective and enroled students at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Services aim at facilitating the autonomy of students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia through successful integration in university life. More details in https://www.unive.it/pag/28640/

ESU CUORI provides free individual activities and group workshops aimed at all Ca' Foscari students: psychological counselling, training to improve study effectiveness, reorientation paths and seminars to learn how to manage anxiety. More details in https://www.unive.it/pag/41328/

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oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development