WMG04101 Nuclear Weapons and International Security I

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program

Lecture Code WMG04101 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name Nuclear Weapons and International Security I

Subject Name
（Katakana）

Subject Name in
English Nuclear Weapons and International Security I

Instructor TOSAKI HIROFUMI

Instructor
(Katakana) トサキ　ヒロフミ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  First Semester,  1Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1T) Weds5-8：IDEC 207

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Presentation, discussion

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 6 : Graduate Advanced

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 02 : Political Science

Eligible Students

Keywords Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Arms Control, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear Strategy, Nuclear Deterrence, International Security

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline The courses Nuclear Weapons and International Security I & II aim to deepen students' understanding of current issues and research trends related to nuclear affairs, including arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation, nuclear strategy, and deterrence.

- Nuclear Weapons and International Politics I: Students will read two (relatively) short articles per lesson. The course focuses on analyzing and examining the background, trends, and key debates surrounding contemporary nuclear issues.
- Nuclear Weapons and International Politics II: Students will read one academic article per lesson. The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of nuclear issues while also paying attention to the perspectives and methodologies employed by experts in their analyses.

For each assigned reading, one designated (or volunteer) student will serve as the presenter, summarizing the article and highlighting key points for the following discussion. The remaining time will be dedicated to a discussion among all participants.

Students enrolled in this course are expected to continue their studies by taking Nuclear Weapons and International Security II in the following term.

Class Schedule lesson1 Introduction
lesson2 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
lesson3 Nuclear strategy and deterrence: The United States, Russia and China
lesson4 Extended nuclear deterrence
lesson5 US-Russian nuclear arms control
lesson6 China and nuclear arms control
lesson7 The war in Ukraine and nuclear issues
lesson8 Nuclear weapons and emerging technologies
lesson9 Humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons
lesson10 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
lesson11 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
lesson12 Nuclear nonproliferation (e.g. IAEA and export control)
lesson13 Regional issues: North Korea
lesson14 Regional issues: South Asia and the Middle East
lesson15 Toward a world without nuclear weapons

The course will provide a comprehensive understanding and discussion of current nuclear issues. The topics to be covered are subject to change depending on the interests of the participants.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Articles to be used in lectures will be separately instructed.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, moodle

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Reading carefully the articles (and other related materials, if necessary) provided for each theme.

Requirements Students must register themselves for 'Nuclear Weapons and International Security II,' too, in the same academic year in order to take this course.

Grading Method Evaluation will be made on each participant's performance on his/her presentation (30%) and on his/her participation in the discussions (30%), as well as a term paper (40%).

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2025Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program
Lecture Code	WMG04101	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	Nuclear Weapons and International Security I
Subject Name （Katakana）
Subject Name in English	Nuclear Weapons and International Security I
Instructor	TOSAKI HIROFUMI
Instructor (Katakana)	トサキ　ヒロフミ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, 1Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1T) Weds5-8：IDEC 207
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Presentation, discussion
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	6 : Graduate Advanced
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	02 : Political Science
Eligible Students
Keywords	Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Arms Control, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear Strategy, Nuclear Deterrence, International Security
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	The courses Nuclear Weapons and International Security I & II aim to deepen students' understanding of current issues and research trends related to nuclear affairs, including arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation, nuclear strategy, and deterrence. - Nuclear Weapons and International Politics I: Students will read two (relatively) short articles per lesson. The course focuses on analyzing and examining the background, trends, and key debates surrounding contemporary nuclear issues. - Nuclear Weapons and International Politics II: Students will read one academic article per lesson. The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of nuclear issues while also paying attention to the perspectives and methodologies employed by experts in their analyses. For each assigned reading, one designated (or volunteer) student will serve as the presenter, summarizing the article and highlighting key points for the following discussion. The remaining time will be dedicated to a discussion among all participants. Students enrolled in this course are expected to continue their studies by taking Nuclear Weapons and International Security II in the following term.
Class Schedule	lesson1 Introduction lesson2 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) lesson3 Nuclear strategy and deterrence: The United States, Russia and China lesson4 Extended nuclear deterrence lesson5 US-Russian nuclear arms control lesson6 China and nuclear arms control lesson7 The war in Ukraine and nuclear issues lesson8 Nuclear weapons and emerging technologies lesson9 Humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons lesson10 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) lesson11 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) lesson12 Nuclear nonproliferation (e.g. IAEA and export control) lesson13 Regional issues: North Korea lesson14 Regional issues: South Asia and the Middle East lesson15 Toward a world without nuclear weapons The course will provide a comprehensive understanding and discussion of current nuclear issues. The topics to be covered are subject to change depending on the interests of the participants.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Articles to be used in lectures will be separately instructed.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, moodle
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Reading carefully the articles (and other related materials, if necessary) provided for each theme.
Requirements	Students must register themselves for 'Nuclear Weapons and International Security II,' too, in the same academic year in order to take this course.
Grading Method	Evaluation will be made on each participant's performance on his/her presentation (30%) and on his/her participation in the discussions (30%), as well as a term paper (40%).
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Back to syllabus main page