The 63rd Japan America Student Conference: Understanding the Globalizing World and Comprehensive Security

Courtney Kimball, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Kunihiro Shimoji, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

Abstract

The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a time-honored tradition for young leaders, initiated in 1934 by Tokyo University students concerned by pre-war relations with the U.S. These Japanese students invited a delegation of U.S. students to Japan to openly discuss pressing issues of the day. The following year, American students reciprocated the invitation by hosting a delegation of Japanese students in the U.S. Through the years, this unique cultural interchange has grown in purpose and scope and now includes more than 4,000 alumni on both sides of the Pacific.

This year the Japan America Student Conference will be held in Japan, and will run from July 24th, 2011 to August 21st, 2011. As members of the American delegation of the Japan America Student Conference, both Courtney and Kuni have been assigned to a Roundtable discussion group that they will investigate while at the conference in Japan. Courtney's Roundtable topic is "Understanding the Globalizing World," and Kuni's Roundtable topic is "Comprehensive Security." Upon returning from this conference, each will have a presentation that they will have publically shared in Japan at the conference's final forum event, and they wish to present their topics to the CSB/SJU community to show what our campuses have contributed to bridging relations between the East and West. A description of the roundtable topics is as follows:

"Understanding the Globalizing World" Globalization is defined as the breakdown of barriers to international trade: an increase in the frequency, magnitude, and freedom of communication, capital flows, migration, and technology that ultimately results in the integration of the world's economies. However, each of these economic processes entails political consequences. Globalization is reshaping the international system, making the conditions of bipolarity that prevailed during the Cold War seem comparatively simple. How can we begin to describe the international system of today? This roundtable will use the insight offered by the theories and paradigms of the past, while at the same time asking what we need to rethink, or what new ideas and theories we must consider, as we attempt to understand the globalizing world.

"Comprehensive Security" 2010 marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, a multifaceted partnership between the United States and Japan to maintain peace and security in the Far East. Moving on from this important milestone, it is crucial for the two countries to jointly address the global challenges of the 21st century. Namely, the UN has addressed the topics of human, food, and resource security. This roundtable will explore how the U.S.-Japan alliance can cooperate to strengthen ties not only in Asia, but in other areas of the world, while understanding the potential threats posed by neighboring countries and terrorism. This roundtable will also analyze the long-term strategic possibilities for both nations to promote the peace and prosperity of East Asia and the international community.