Gerald Curtis

Curtis talked about "General Election Analysis & Japan's Political Future" at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on August 31, 2009.

Gerald L. Curtis (born September 18, 1940) is an American academic, a political scientist interested in comparative politics, Japanese politics and U.S.-Japan relations.^[1]

Columbia University

Curtis has been the Burgess Professor of Political Science at Columbia University since 1998.^[1] Between 1974 and 1990, Curtis was head of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute (WEAI) at Columbia.

Academic career

• Professor, Department of Political Science, Columbia University, since 1976; Burgess Professor since 1998.^[2]
• Visiting Professor, Graduate Research Institute for Policy Studies (Tokyo), (2000-20__).^[3]
• Director, East Asian Institute, Columbia University (1973–1975, 1977–1984, 1987–1991).^[4]
• Director, Center for Korean Research, Columbia University (1990–1991).^[1]
• Visiting Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University (1982–1983).^[1]
• Visiting Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo, 1976-1977.^[1]
• Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Columbia University, 1972-1976.^[1]
• Research Associate, Faculty of Law, Keio University, 1971-1972.^[1]
• Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Columbia University, 1969-1972.^[1]
• Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Columbia University, 1968-1969.^[1]
• Instructor, Department of Political Science, University of Illinois, 1968.^[1]
• Research Associate, East Asian Institute, Columbia University, 1967-1968.^[1]

International academia

• Collège de France, Paris.^[1]
• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore.^[4]
• Research Institute for Economy, Trade and Industry, Tokyo.^[4]
  • * International Institute of Economic Studies, Tokyo.^[4]

Selected works

In a statistical overview derived from writings by and about Gerald Curtis, OCLC/WorldCat encompasses roughly 40+ works in 80+ publications in 5 languages and 5,000+ library holdings. ^[5]

• Curtis, Gerald L. (2001). Policymaking in Japan: Defining the Role of Politicians. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution for the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE). [Japanese edition -- (2001). Tokyo: JCIE] ISBN 978-4-88907-062-0 (paper)
• _________. (2000). New Perspectives on U.S.-Japan Relations. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution. [Chinese edition -- (2001).]
• __________. (1999). The Logic of Japanese Politics. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-10842-3 (cloth) -- ISBN 978-0-231-10843-0 (paper) [Japanese edition -- (2001). Nagata cho Seiji no Kobo. Tokyo: Shinchosha; Korean edition -- (2002). Han’ul.]
• __________. (1996). Nihon No Seiji O Doo Miru Ka (Comparative Perspectives on Japanese Politics). Tokyo: NHK.
• __________. (1994). The United States, Japan and Asia: Challenges for US Policy. New York: W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-03633-6 (cloth) -- ISBN 978-0-393-96583-4 (paper)
• __________. (1993). Japan's Foreign Policy After the Cold War: Coping with Change. Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-1-56324-217-5 (cloth)
• __________. (1991). Posuto-Reisen Jidai no Nihon (Japan in the Post Cold War Era). Tokyo: Shinbun Shuppan-kyoku.
• __________. (1989). The Way of Japanese Politics. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-06680-8 (cloth) -- ISBN 978-0-231-06681-5 (paper) [Japanese edition -- (1987). Nihongata Seiji No Honshitsu. Tokyo: TBS-Britannica (Ohira Memorial Prize, 1989); Thai edition -- (1998).]
• __________. (1984). The Dynamics of Japanese Politics (Doken Kokka Nippon), with Ishikawa Masumi. Tokyo: Kobunsha.
• __________, (1971). Election Campaigning Japanese Style. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-03512-5 (cloth) [reprtined by Kodansha, New York, 1981. ISBN 978-0-87011-630-8 (paper)] [Japanese translation -- Daigishi No Tanjo. Tokyo: Simul Press.]
• _________. 1970). Japanese-American Relations in the Seventies. New York: Columbia Books. [Japanese edition -- (1970). Okinawa Igo no Nichibei Kankei. Tokyo: Simul Press.[

Professor Curtis became a special advisor to Newsweek when the magazine's Japanese language edition was initiated in 1986.^[6] When the political events or changes became the news of the day, the editorial staff incorporated Curtis' analysis.^[7] The New York Times also incorporates the analysis.^[8]

Professional activities

Curtis' current professional activities are varied:^[1]

• Research Institute on Trade and Economy, Tokyo—Faculty fellow (2003-20__).
• Graduate Research Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo—Visiting professor (2000-20__).
• Japan Center for International Exchange (U.S.) -- Board of Directors (1992-20__).
• United States-Japan Foundation—Board of Trustees (1993-20__).
• National Security Archive's U.S. Japan Project, Advisory Board.
• National Institute of Democracy, Advisory Board.
• Foundation for Advanced Information and Research (FAIR), Advisory Board member
• Asian Survey, Editorial Board.
• Newsweek Japan, Senior Editorial Advisor (1986-20__)
• Newsweek Korea, Senior Editorial Advisor (1991-20__).
• Chunichi Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun, Advisory Board (1982-20__)

Curtis' was formerly involved in the following:^[1]

• Columbia University
  • Project on the United States, Japan and Southeast Asia—Executive Director (1984–1986).
  • Project on U.S.-Korean Security Relations—Director (1980–1984).
  • Research Project on the U.S. and Japan in Multilateral Diplomacy—Director (1975–1980).
  • U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Exchange Program—Director (1971–1978).
  • U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Exchange Program—Associate Director (1968–1970).
• Japan Foundation
  • Center for Global Partnership, Advisory Council—Member (1991–2000).
  • American Advisory Committee—Member (1977–1979).
• Asia Society
  • Advisory Group on the Asia Agenda Program—Member (1985–1993).
  • Study Mission to North Korea—Member (1992).
  • US-Japan Consultative Group on Policies Toward the People's Republic of China, Core Group—Member (1990–1992).
  • Program of Japan and the United States in Asia, Advisory Board—Chairman (1983–1986).
• Trilateral Commission—Member.
• Asahi Shimbun, International Advisory Board.^[2]
• American Academy of Political Science (AAPS), Board—Member.
• NHK, 12 half-hour programs in Japanese on comparative perspectives on Japanese politics—Author and Narrator (1996).
• American Assembly Conference on the United States and Japan in Asia: Challenges for U.S. Policy—Project Director (1993).
• Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, Board of Editors.
• United Nations Association, Panel on Regional Security in East Asia—Member (1986–88).
• Council on Foreign Relations, Study Group on U.S.-Japan Relations—Chairman (1986–1987).
• International Journal of Politics, Contributing Editor (1979–1989).
• Shimoda Conferences on U.S.-Japan Relations, Steering Committee—Member (1969–1990).
• Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), Joint Committee on Japanese Studies—Chairman (1974–1977).
• Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) -- Fellow (1976–1977).

Professional associations

Curtis joined the conventional associations:^[1]

• American Academy of Political Science (AAPS)
• American Political Science Association (APSA)
• Asia Society
• Association of Asian Studies
• Council on Foreign Relations
• International House of Japan
• Japan Society

Honors, prizes and awards

Curtis' work across the span of his career has garnered recognition:^[1]

• Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, 2004 (Japan).^[6]
• Japan Foundation Award (2002).
• Chunichi Shimbun Special Achievement Award (1990).
• Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize for The Japanese Way of Politics (1989).
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship (1982–1983).
• Japan Foundation Long-Term Fellowship (1982–1983).
• Ford Foundation Research Grant (1975–1976).
• Thyssen Foundation Fellowship (1975–1976).
• Fulbright-Hays Fellowship (1964–1965, 1966–1967).
• National Defense Foreign Language Fellowship (1963–1964, 1965–1966).
• Woodrow Wilson Fellowship (1962–1963).

References