PEACE BOAT SPECIAL GLOBAL UNIVERSITY PROGRAMME—SUMMER 2015

Re-Defining Security: Is Common Human Security Possible in Asia?

Peace Boat‘s Global University

The Global University is a peace education programme that takes place at sea during Peace Boat's Global Voyages. It offers a unique curriculum that combines exposure programmes (field visits) in ports with workshops and seminars onboard Peace Boat's ship, and addresses a range of global issues that include peace, human rights, and the environment. The Global University programme aims to nurture future leaders by equipping them with the knowledge, means and experiences necessary to actively engage in the third sector, such as non-government organizations, international bodies, and local activism.

PHOTO: Karl Goodsell, Sumiko Hatakeyama, Shoichi Suzuki, Shunya Mizumoto

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PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

OVERALL THEME

Re-Defining Security: Is Common Human Security Possible in Asia?

BACKGROUND: WHAT IS COMMON HUMAN SECURITY?

The Asia-Pacific region suffers from a range of pressing issues today. On one hand, there are international tensions and environmental degradation, which require supranational solutions and actions. On the other hand, domestic issues, such as internal conflicts and poverty also prevail. As such, security today should no longer be understood simply as the absence of armed conflicts, but as something more comprehensive, comprising personal, community, political, environmental, health, food/water and economic security—what the UN has defined as “human security”. At the same time,

what appears to be equally relevant is the notion of “common security”, what was originally proposed as the guiding principle to ease international tension and eventually overcome the Cold War. In this programme, Peace Boat invites young talented future leaders of the Asia-Pacific to engage in the endeavour to examine, how these two concepts on security may be combined, tailored to distinct localities, and applied to overcome national, regional and global issues of today.

PROGRAMME DATES & ITINERARY

Friday 21 August to Wednesday 9 September 2015 (20 days)

Participants will meet in Yokohama (Japan), on Friday 21 August, and sail to Mumbai (India). On the way the group will visit Cebu (The Philippines) and Singapore. The programme ends on Wednesday 9 September in Mumbai (India).

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty five (25) participants from Japan, India, China and ASEAN countries, between the age of 18 and 35. Ideal candidates will have strong interest in international relations, security issues and peace and development studies, or have experiences of initiatives linked to these themes. Adequate command of English, sufficient to understand lectures and participate in discussions, is a minimum requirement. The selection committee will evaluate the application materials based on the “eligibility” to be laid out in the call for participants. Skype/phone interviews may be conducted.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPECIAL GLOBAL UNIVERSITY PROGRAMME

LEARNING WITH FELLOW STUDENTS FROM THE ASIA-PACIFIC

The programme participants will come from across the Asia-Pacific region. Participants will use their own unique perspectives to address the themes of the programme, and learn to consider the same issue from various viewpoints before proposing solutions to it. Such dynamic and intensive exchanges shall nurture a strong comparative perspective in each of the participants.

LEARNING IN ASIA (EXPOSURE PROGRAMME)

The programme will bring students to three different countries. In the Philippines, Singapore and India, participants will meet with and learn from active local civil society organisations and young leaders, which will foster their ability to consider issues for themselves from a personal perspective. These exposure programmes literally expose participants to alternative ways of thinking, learning and doing through interaction with individuals directly affected by the issues being examined.

LEARNING IN ENGLISH

The entire programme will be offered in English, enabling an effective means to communicate ideas and to learn from others. Participants will experience authentic global communication by engaging in discussion with participants from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

NAVIGATOR

Throughout the programme, the Navigator guides the learning experience of the participants by acting as a resource person, prompting participants with key questions, and facilitating discussions and other interactive sessions.

PAST NAVIGATOR

DR. MARIO GOMEZ DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR ETHNIC STUDIES

Executive Director at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Colombo. He has published in the areas of human rights, constitutional reform, public law, gender equality and post-conflict justice. He was a Member of the Law Commission of Sri Lanka for ten years and a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University in 2001.

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COORDINATORS

KAWASAKI AKIRA

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF PEACE BOAT / INTERNATIONAL STEERING GROUP MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS (ICAN)

Born in Japan. Lectures at Keisen University and Rikkyo Univeristy, while being an activist advocating for peace and disarmament. In 2009, he served as an NGO Advisor to Co-Chairs of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND). He writes and speaks widely on nuclear issues both in Japan and abroad.

JASNA BASTIC

INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR OF PEACE BOAT

Jasna Bastic is international coordinator with Peace Boat responsible for programmes on peace education; she works on projects related to conflict analysis and non-violent conflict resolutions, institutions of international justice and security systems; she designs and implements courses for university students and youth activists with special focus on youth leadership; she is also journalist who covered the war in the Balkans for Swiss media; she gives lectures and training courses on political manipulation in media and role of social media.

SYLLABUS OVERVIEW

SYLLABUS OVERVIEW

The programme will consist of five units as below (please see “syllabus” below for more details). Unit 1: National Security, Human Security, and Common Security Unit 2: State Stability and Conflict Cycle Unit 3: Multiethnic Country in its 50th year—Migrants and Human Security Unit 4: Human Security in Emerging States Unit 5: Young Leaders’ Declaration “Towards Common Human Security in the Asia-Pacific”

METHODOLOGY

It will be a combination of onboard seminars, as well as “exposure” programmes (field visits) in three ports of call (Cebu, Singapore, and Mumbai). The entire programme will be offered in English.

ASSESSMENT

Students’ performance will be assessed by the followings. Four short reports (one report per unit for Unit 1 to 4) The final team-report for Unit 5 (i.e., contribution to the Young Leaders’ Declaration) Post-programme essay

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SYLLABUS

UNIT 1 NATIONAL SECURITY, HUMAN SECURITY, AND COMMON SECURITY

This introductory unit aims to familiarise students with the main concepts of “human security” and the ideas that underpin these different concepts, such as the notion of national security, threats, citizens’ responsibilities and freedoms, and the actors in achieving “human security”. In lectures and interactive workshops students will explore Asia-Pacific countries’ practices of human and common security and discuss how common threats such as global warming, poverty, and nuclear issues can and should be tackled within a framework of sustainable and common human security. This unit is furthermore designed to prepare students for the following units and their fieldtrips.

UNIT 2 STATE STABILITY AND CONFLICT CYCLE

In the Philippines, 80% of the entire population allegedly belong to the low-income strata. While some of the population benefit from the economic growth of the country, there are too many people who cannot escape the poverty trap. Furthermore, stability appears fragile, as can be seen by the conflict in Mindanao, which lasted for decades until the peace deal was signed very recently in March 2014. What we can witness here is the intricate relationship between security and poverty, or national security and human security. In this unit, we shall explore in particular the relationship between “stability” and “development”.

EXPOSURE PROGRAMME IN CEBU (26 & 27 AUGUST 2015)

In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the Cebu Island and caused severe damage to the area. It is reported that over 6,000 people lost their lives. In Cebu, participants will visit a local NGO that supported the recovery process to learn how disasters can hinder human development.

UNIT 3 MULTIETHNIC COUNTRY IN ITS 50TH YEAR—MIGRANTS AND HUMAN SECURITY

With increased global mobility, Singapore is receiving new migrants from countries, such as Bangladesh, China, and the Philippines. Social cohesion has become an extremely hot topic: housing & language policy, employment practices, integration schemes, national identity and race relations are all being re-examined. How can Singapore preserve its national identity while continuing to incorporate new migrants in the spirit of multiculturalism? In this unit, we shall explore how a nation-state can establish a humane and sustainable system of accepting migrants.

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EXPOSURE PROGRAMME IN SINGAPORE (31 AUGUST 2015)

Participants will take part in Day School organised by Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), an organisation that supports migrant workers in the country. The Day School consists of lecture/presentation on migrant issues, walking tour of Little India, and introduction to their food program for destitute migrant workers.

UNIT 4 HUMAN SECURITY IN EMERGING STATES

India is one of the five major emerging national economies in the past decade, also referred to as BRICS. Both domestically and internationally, there is a rush to leverage this momentum and to facilitate further economic growth. Yet, for ensuring emerging states’ sustainable development, it is not enough to measure their “growth”, purely by its market size or by its GDP: whether human rights and human security are ensured should also be important indicators of development. In this unit, participants will revisit the notions of “growth” and “development”, and think about the intricate relationship between economic growth and human security.

EXPOSURE PROGRAMME IN MUMBAI (8 & 9 SEPTEMBER 2015)

In partnership with the Institute of Urbanology, participants will visit Dharavi, one of the largest marginalised communities in Mumbai. Through field visits and workshops, participants will engage with local community groups to think about what security challenges mean to individuals in these communities, and how their security and safety may be guaranteed.

UNIT 5 YOUNG LEADERS ’ DECLARATION “TOWARDS COMMON HUMAN SECURITY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC”

During the course of the programme, students will research in teams a specific issue of their interest in the common human security of the Asia-Pacific. Based on their studies as well as their findings in the three exposure programmes, each student-team will compile a report to be presented to and discussed with the other participants. At the end of the programme, the class will draw up recommendations and a declaration for a common security in Asia. This declaration will be passed on to the United Nations and Country Representatives, as well as civil society organisations (CSOs) in the region.

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PAST PARTICIPANTS’ VOICES

At university, I only study with Japanese people, so I only know opinions from the Japanese people. But in this programme, I get to hear from Sri Lankans, Burmese, Filipinos…and all other people from all over Asia. It is a good way to learn about conflicts and other issues happening in Asia. Also, we also get to see the actual places the things happen. So it is a different way of studying.

—Inoue Shogo (Japan)

I think it is important to understand about conflicts deeply. Most of the discussions we had during these sessions were very deep discussions. I think this kind of deep conversations should be implemented in our societies also: we learn from each other and expand knowledge on what peace is, what real reconciliation is, what conflict resolution is all about.

—Ramzi Zaindeen (Sri Lanka)

It definitely helped that we were exposed to different countries. Now I can actually see how certain concepts or certain frameworks work out, [I can see] political dynamics in each country….Different realities help make my learnings about certain issues deeper. Listening to their [other participants’] stories, it gives me a wider perspective on how it is to be a human being in different parts of the world.

—Marc Batac (The Philippines)

One specific thing that I have learned is that many of us share some common stories about conflicts, whether it was a while ago or it is recent. We all are still significantly influenced by the past and current conflict situations…At Peace Boat, you are free—there is no international boundaries, there is nobody

who limits your thoughts or censors what you say. You are free to think and free to form new imaginations and new thoughts that can really help your future work.

—Joseph Wah (Myanmar/Burma)

We are much more open-minded to the world than we were before. —Thevuni Kotigala (Sri Lanka)

After I participated in this programme…I thought as a student I should get more involved in solving the problems Japan has, at the grass-root level. Not just studying about them, but involving myself in the actual problem-solving process.

—Hoshino Jun (Japan)

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PRICE

Approximately 370,000 JPY per person

This includes full programme and tuition costs, including three “exposure” programmes, visa fees as well as all transport, accommodation and food costs throughout the programme onboard Peace Boat and other miscellaneous expense. It does not include airfares to Yokohama and from Mumbai.

ELIGIBILITY

The selection committee will evaluate the application materials based on the “eligibility” below:

Agree with the project aims and be able to fully participate in the full programme (21 August to 9 September 2015)

Be between the age of 18 and 35 as of 21 August 2015 Have adequate command of English, sufficient to understand lectures and participate in

discussions. Meet one of the criteria below for countries in the Asia-Pacific

1. Hold citizenship in one of the countries in the region 2. Have strong interest in one of the countries in the region, as well as experience of

conducting research and other activities in said country 3. Reside in one of the countries in the region for study or work purposes

Be confident in your ability to cooperate with other participants, regardless of their age and citizenship

Have strong motivation to pursue your activities related to this topic after your participation in the project

ABOUT PEACE BOAT

Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non-governmental and non-profit organization founded in 1983 that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment. Peace Boat seeks to create awareness and action based on effecting positive social and political change in the world. We pursue this through the organization of global educational programmes, responsible travel, cooperative projects and advocacy. These activities are carried out on a partnership basis with other civil society organizations and communities in Japan, Northeast Asia, and around the world. (www.peaceboat.org/english)

INQUIRY

For further information and inquiries, please contact Peace Boat Office.

Akira KAWASAKI (Mr.) Email: univ@peaceboat.gr.jp | Tel: +81-3-3363-8047 | FAX: +81-3-3363-7562 Website: http://www.peaceboat.org/english