Seminar for Advanced Liberal Arts - Special Session
Geopolitics of the Turbulent Middle East

On October 8, 2025, as part of the Seminar for Advanced Liberal Arts,we had the honor of welcoming Special Envoy Tsukasa Uemura, who has served as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and held various key diplomatic posts, for a special lecture titled “Geopolitics of the Turbulent Middle East.”

The lecture began by highlighting a fundamental difference in identity formation: while Japanese identity is often framed within a singular national context, people in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region tend to construct their identities through multiple layers—religious, ethnic, and national. These overlapping identities can foster cooperation but also trigger conflict, significantly influencing the region’s political and social dynamics.

Furthermore, the MENA region occupies a geopolitically critical position at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Its abundant natural resources and strategic maritime routes make it a focal point of global interest. These factors intertwine to create a complex and often unstable geopolitical landscape, as clearly illustrated throughout the lecture.
The event drew many international students from the Middle East, who actively engaged in the discussion by sharing personal experiences and perspectives.

Through concrete examples, they explored how religious, ethnic, and national identities shape everyday life and societal interactions. This exchange transformed the lecture into a meaningful dialogue, fostering deeper mutual understanding among participants from diverse backgrounds.