東京大学大学院法学政治学研究科・法学部　グローバル・リーダーシップ寄付講座（読売新聞社）

Dear Colleagues and Students,

Today’s globalized society recognizes the world’s conflicts, extreme poverty, terrorism and other issues as shared global problems, and is strengthening its efforts to find a solution for them through various projects. The actors at the center of these efforts have been sovereign countries and major international organizations whose respective interests and views can complicate issues. In recent years however, non-governmental organizations, corporations, and individuals are taking on a more important role, an interesting development from a law and politics studies viewpoint.

It would not be possible to say that Japan has developed a great number of human resources in these areas. In comparison to past periods when Japan produced such individuals as Inazo Nitobe, Former Under-Secretary General of the League of Nations (1920-26) and Mineichiro Adachi, Former President of the Permanent Court of International Justice (1931-35), in recent years Japan has not been active in the development of international leaders. Particularly in comparison to the 1990s when Yasushi Akashi, Former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and Sadako Ogata, Former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, played an active role in international affairs, recent development of international leaders in Japan has been stagnant.

One reason for this could be the lack of effort on the part of The University of Tokyo and other Japanese universities which, despite interacting with many students with great interest in world problems and great potential to be leaders, have not been able to fully respond to the aspirations of these students.

With this in mind, Global Leadership Studies programs have been created at the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law and Graduate Schools for Law and Politics in April 2009 for three years with the generous financial support of The Yomiuri Shimbun. This program, with the aim of raising future leaders who will work to solve problems on the world stage and lead to the enrichment of research and education in these fields, will offer several courses lead by distinguished professionals.

Of course, only taking classes for few years at university or graduate school does not necessarily mean that students will have gained all the skills necessary for active service to the international community. However, learning about the serious issues facing the world and being given the opportunity to broaden their worldviews during their university years carries great meaning. From there, we hope these students can act as leaders at the United Nations, other international organizations, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other offices, NGOs and corporations.

Global Leadership Studies have prepared a variety of seminars and lectures for students of Graduates School of Law and Politics, Graduate School of Public Policy and other faculties at the University of Tokyo. There will also be programs limited not only to students but open to the general public. This kind of program can only be successful with the active participation of students and listeners. We invite you to take part and hope that you too can feel the joys and responsibilities of working on the international stage.