20 April 2010
This third seminar in the 2010 series, ‘States in Change: National Identity in the UK and Japan’, explored the impact of education on national identity and the role of the school system and ‘informal education’ in shaping national and social values.
20 May 2010
This fourth seminar in the 2010 series, ‘States in Change: National Identity in the UK and Japan’, explored the factors contributing to life chances in both countries. The speakers addressed the current debates on changing societies and social inequalities which, in the immediate aftermath of the UK General Election, resulted in a lively discussion of what policy makers can and should be doing to effect change.
24 June 2010
This fifth seminar in the 2010 series, ‘States in Change: National Identity in the UK and Japan’, explored working lives in both countries from the perspective of gender issues and social change. The culture of work in Japan provided a particular focus. Against the backdrop of the economic downturn, the seminar considered current trends with respect to demographic change and career prospects for women.
22 September 2010
This sixth seminar in the 2010 series, ‘States in Change: National Identity in the UK and Japan’, provided two very different perspectives on the subject of ‘Immigrants, Minorities and the Multiculturalism Debate’. Multicultural Britain has a long history of immigration and integration of foreign nationals into local communities while Japan’s traditionally homogeneous society, for historic and economic reasons, has followed another pattern.
20 October 2010
The seventh seminar in the 2010 series, ‘States in Change: National Identity in the UK and Japan’, addressed the role of the media in influencing and projecting national images. It considered national news coverage in relation to the global news network, and the role of the foreign correspondent in the UK and Japan.
17 November 2010
The final seminar in the 2010 seminar series, ‘States in Change: National Identity in the UK and Japan’, explored the ways in which aspects of foreign cultures and national interests may be communicated and projected abroad. Concepts such as ‘soft power’ have contributed to changing definitions of public diplomacy, a term which was first used in US diplomatic circles in the 1960s.
24 May 2011
This fourth seminar in the 2011 series, Uncertain Futures: The Individual, Society and the State in the UK and Japan, considered the role of education in society and the pressures of adapting education policy to changing needs.
14 June 2011
This fifth seminar in the 2011 series considered the issues surrounding healthcare provision and management in the UK and Japan. This is a highly topical area for debate in the UK as spending cuts and healthcare reforms focus attention on the ways in which the NHS must adapt to changing times. The Japanese health service is facing similar difficulties as Japan’s ageing population and low birth rate impact upon healthcare needs and provision.
7 April 2011
This third seminar in the 2011 series, Uncertain Futures: The Individual, Society and the State in the UK and Japan, considered issues relating to employment, retirement and pension reform.
2 March 2011
This second seminar in the 2011 series, Uncertain Futures: The Individual, Society and the State in the UK and Japan, explored the concepts and issues surrounding social security and welfare provision in the UK and Japan. The speakers considered current arrangements in both countries in the context of longstanding debates on trust and responsibility and what the State should provide to support social needs.
