Events

Democracy and Human Rights Program
Democracy and Human Rights Program
Democracy and Human Rights Program
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Publications

Democracy and Human Rights Program

Myanmar’s Rohingya Crisis: The Problem of Unrecognized Identity

AuthorHnin Htet Htet Aung
DateJuly 18, 2025

AbstractIn response to the military's genocidal assault, about 740,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since 2017. The Rohingya problem in Myanmar is based in political, ethnic, and religious oppression. Since 1982, the Rohingya people have been systematically denied citizenship, which has made their statelessness worse. The failure of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government to address the persecution of the Rohingya people crushed hopes for progress. Despite challenges posed by the military coup in 2021, the National Unity Government (NUG) has made headway in acknowledging their identity and pursuing international legal assistance.
This work examines the identity crisis that the Rohingya are experiencing and examines how the current turmoil in Myanmar is fueled by denial of their ethnic and political identity. The Rohingya have been further marginalized by the military's exploitation of religious emotion and the development of Buddhist nationalism. Despite these obstacles, the Rohingya have emerged as key players in Myanmar's pro-democracy movement, standing in solidarity with other ethnic groups against military rule. Their shared identity has become better known worldwide, representing resistance. The Rohingya people are still fighting for political legitimacy in Myanmar, but doing so is crucial to advancing social cohesion and human rights.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

China’s ‘Malinformation’ Comes for Okinawa

AuthorICHIHARA Maiko
DateMarch 20, 2025
Democracy and Human Rights Program
Democracy and Human Rights Program
Democracy and Human Rights Program

The Making of International Human Rights Norms: Contestation, Norm Clusters, and Actor Engagement in SOGI

AuthorTakahiro Nakajima
DateJune 16, 2025

AbstractThis paper analyzes international norms concerning sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI norms) by using insights from norm research in International Relations (NRIR). With analytical concepts in NRIR such as norm contestation, transnational advocacy networks, and norm clusters, it explores how SOGI norms have faced advancement and hostility. It begins by outlining states’ obligations regarding SOGI norms under international human rights law, from protecting individuals against violence to repealing discriminatory laws. Next, it explains that SOGI norms are frequently contested over their validity by actors connected through transnational conservative networks. Then, it argues that SOGI norms’ embeddedness within international human rights norm clusters has been increased by multiple actors. This deepened embeddedness could enhance the resilience of SOGI norms to the frequent validity contestation. It moves to the analysis of actors’ approaches and activities with a particular focus on activities of the Independent Expert on violence and discrimination based on SOGI (IE SOGI). It concludes that despite significant progress, the strength of SOGI norms remains fragile in the face of political backlash and illiberal actors’ strategies.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

Liberal Features of the Liberal International Order: Tools for the Understanding and Typology of Liberal Elements

AuthorYuki MORITANI
DateJune 11, 2025

AbstractInternational order is a central issue in international relations, both as an academic discipline and in reality, and an accurate understanding of its concept and real meaning is extremely important. The paper aims to deepen our understanding of the post–World War II international order, also called the “Liberal International Order" (LIO), which is exceedingly complex to understand in its entirety, by focusing on its liberal elements and characteristics. As the LIO is intersubjective, the author does not interpret it from the idea of liberalism but rather inquires as to the elements and characteristics that have been considered “liberal” in existing discussions. The paper develops our understanding of the LIO by categorizing it according to theoretical liberal elements and characteristics of political, economic, social, and international relations.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

Fear of Influence Operations: Role and Challenges for Researchers

AuthorArild Bergh
DateJune 9, 2025

AbstractThis briefing discusses how Chinese foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) activities are perceived locally by potential target audiences in Okinawa. Such covert influence operations are employed to sway public opinion and affect policy in democratic countries. Enabled by the global reach of social media and digital platforms, these efforts threaten democratic discourse and stability. However, the research discussed here found that the actual impact locally tends to be exaggerated in research and public opinion. To improve our understanding of, and ability to handle FIMI activities it is suggested that research needs to consider four issues. These are 1) the local context the FIMI enters, 2) the level(s) the researcher(s) work on, 3) the origins of narratives used, and 4) the target groups involved. By including these dimensions when examining the impact of influence activities, we can hopefully improve how we handle influence activities in democracies.

Democracy and Human Rights Program

Support Myanmar: It’s Time to Act [in Japanese]

AuthorMaiko Ichihara
DateFebruary 16, 2025
Democracy and Human Rights Program
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Researchers

Full-time Researchers

  • NameICHIHARA Maiko
  • Position and AffiliationProfessor, Graduate School of Law / School of International and Public Policy
  • Research areasInternational relations, Japanese foreign policy, human rights and democracy diplomacy, democracy support, influence operations

Assistants

 

 

  • Name JEONG Minhee
  • Position and Affiliation Doctoral student, Graduate School of Law
  • Research areas International relations, refugee and asylum policy, resettlement
HANNIG Nunez Sascha
  • Name HANNIG NUÑEZ Sascha
  • Position and Affiliation Doctoral student, Graduate School of Law
  • Research areas International relations, influence operations, democratic studies, technology and society
  • Name HOSSAIN Billal
  • Position and Affiliation Doctoral student, Graduate School of Law
  • Research areas International relations, green innovation
  • Name KOYAMA Tomoe
  • Position and Affiliation Doctoral student, Graduate School of Law
  • Research areas International relations, international norms, SDGs
  • Name LO Chiaoyu Joyce
  • Position and Affiliation Master’s student, School of International and Public Policy
  • Research areas International relations, peacekeeping operations
  • Name NAKA Kento
  • Position and Affiliation Master’s student, School of International and Public Policy
  • Research areas International relations, Taiwan, populism
  • Name NAKAJIMA Takahiro
  • Position and Affiliation Master’s student, Graduate School of Law
  • Research areas International relations, international norms, LGBT rights
  • Name TAKAKURA Akari
  • Position and Affiliation Undergraduate student, Faculty of Law
  • Research areas International relations, political communication, strategic narratives