Michiko Kuroda

  • Senior Instructor, International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Faculty Advisor to the Model UN Team
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  2. Michiko Kuroda
Prof. Michiko Kuroda

Prof. Michiko Kuroda has been a core faculty member of the International Relations and Diplomacy Program in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, since 2013, in various capacities, currently as Lecturer. Her teaching is based on her 30 years of working at the United Nations. Prof. Kuroda brings her practical experiences to the courses she teaches: International Organization, Model UN, International Negotiation and Diplomacy, International Security Studies, and Managing Human Conflicts. She also assists with teaching  International Law. Since 2014, Prof. Kuroda’s students have participated in Model United conferences, bringing outstanding awards to the Mercy team.

Prof. Kuroda’s UN experience included both at headquarters (Geneva and New York) and in the field (Timor-Leste). She served as chief of staff for UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions (United Nations Mission in East Timor, UNMISET; United Nations Office in Timor-Leste, UNOTIL; and United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, UNMIT). As a certified mediator, Prof. Kuroda applied her conflict resolution and mediation skills to prevent further occurrences of conflict. Prof. Kuroda worked in several areas including human rights, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, evaluation and management analysis, capacity development, and negotiation. Prof. Kuroda continues to serve the UN as an executive coach and peacebuilding advisor.  As a certified executive coach, she brings a change mindset to learning.

Prof. Kuroda’s research interest is in the practical implications of conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation. She has been an advocate for a) analyzing root causes of potential and developing conflicts mostly on an international scale; b) improving decision-making processes for UN peace operations, and c) building capacity.  Based on her pioneering work on early warning, she now applies emotional intelligence theories to advance her work. Recently, she has been examining the accountability system for the protection of civilians so as to develop a more effective system for UN peace operations by bringing new perspectives.  

Prof. Kuroda also serves as a Visiting Fellow on UN affairs at the Center of Global Engagement (CGE). She acts as Mercy University’s point of contact for the UN because Mercy University has NGO status with the UN Department of Public Information and is a member of the UN Academic Impact. She also organizes events for the CGE.

 

 

  • Graduate Program, Columbia Coaching Certification Program (Cohort 20), Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA, 2018
  • Graduate Institute of International Studies (I’HEUI), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, International Law Certificates, 1980
  • Graduate School, Tsukuba University, Japan, MA in International Affairs, 1980
  • Institute of European Studies, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium,
  • Diplôme d’études d’européennes (MA, European Studies), 1978
  • Tsuda College, Tokyo, Japan, BA, International Relations, 1974

Prof. Kuroda’s research interest is in the practical implications of conflict resolution, negotiation, and mediation, as well as conflict transformation. Recently, she completed some work about the application of emotional intelligence in the decision-making process for United Nations peace operations. Based on her pioneering work on early warning, she now applies emotional intelligence theories to advance her work.

Recently, she has been conducting research and analysis on the UN Human Rights mechanism and the Black Lives Matter movement to identify the avenues for policy options for reconciliation and negotiations. 

Currently, she is examining the accountability system for the protection of civilians with a view to developing a more effective system for UN peace operations by incorporating new perspectives. 

1. Fundamentals of International Organizations (IRDP/POLS 372)

   This course concerns how the United Nations and other international governmental organizations function and how they affect international relations. It will focus on the role member states play in the decision-making process in addressing international and global issues. The goal is for students to understand the basics of how UN representatives could influence the work of the United Nations. 

2. International Organizations/Case Study (Model United Nations) (IRDP/POLS 373, IRDP 441 and 442)

    Students will participate in the Model UN (MUN) Conference, where they will interact with and compete against other delegations (as many as 3,000) from all over the world. Students will experience what it is like to be diplomats. As part of the preparation, students will conduct research and analysis of world issues, develop position papers, practice negotiation, and develop possible solutions in consultation with other delegations.

3.  International Negotiation and Diplomacy (IRDP/POLS 356)

  This course will teach students what diplomacy is and how it works, particularly through by international negotiation. Students will learn about the basic features of diplomacy and its evolving mode of operations in the interdependent world. They will also learn about international mediation and negotiation cases, including both Tracks I and II Diplomacy. Roleplay of international cases will help students develop negotiation skills.

4.  International Security Studies: Threat, Risk, and Conflict (IRDP 420)

   This course will teach students about global threats and risks that have led to conflict so that they can learn to think globally and see the “big picture” through world trends and events. Students will learn to analyze conflicts by identifying root causes, impacts, and possible consequences. Based on their analyses, they will learn to develop possible solutions.

5. Managing Human Conflict (I and II) (LAWS/SOCI/PSYC/POLS 255 and 256)

   These are interdisciplinary courses within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.  These courses will teach students what conflict is, why it happens, and how conflict develops. Students will learn that conflict is part of life and society.  Roleplay of various types of conflict cases will help students develop and gain conflict resolution and management skills that they will be able to apply in their daily life.

 

 

Books 

  • Early Warning & Conflict Resolution (co-editor), McMillan & St. Martin’s Press, London/NY, 1992

Articles

  • “Application of Emotional Intelligence to Peacebuilding and Development through Training and Capacity Building,” Journal on Peacebuilding and Development, Sage Publications, Vol. 15 (3), March 2020, pp.366-371
  • “Emotional Intelligence and United Nations Peace Operations: The Possibility of Applying Emotional Intelligence to the Decision-Making Processes,” in Tsukuba Area Studies, No. 40, Tsukuba University, March 2019, pp. 71-92
  • “Interest-Based negotiation and MUN: Equipping Youth with Appropriate Tools for a Better World,” in Global Negotiation: Perspectives ion Teaching and Learning, Kobe City University of Foreign Studies Journal of Research Institute, Vol. 58, December 2018, pp. 7 - 24
  • “Preventive Diplomacy in the United Nations Peace Operations: Field Perspectives,” in Tsukuba Area Studies No. 37, Tsukuba University, March 2016, pp. 71 - 92
  • “Preventive Diplomacy at the United Nations: Comprehensive Approach,” in International Affairs, Institute of International Affairs, Tokyo, December 1998
  • “Emerging Conflicts in 2000” in Human Development Report, UNDP, Oxford Press, March 1994
  • “Early Warning Capacity of the United Nations System: Prospects for the Future,” in Early Warning and Conflict Resolution, Kumar Rupesinghe and Michiko Kuroda (Eds.), McMillan & St. Martin’s Press, London/NY, 1992, pp.215 - 227

1) Nominated for the best teaching award, 2019

2) As Faculty Adviser to the Model UN Conferences, the Mercy team received the following awards:

  • Distinguished Delegation Award, March 2014 (Haiti)
  • Distinguished Delegation Award, and Outstanding Position Paper (GA1), November 2014 (Ecuador) (DC)
  • Honorable Mention Delegation Award, March/April 2015 (Malawi)
  • Honorable Mention Delegation Award, March 2016 (Ethiopia)
  • Distinguished Position Paper Award (GA1), November 2016 (DC; Denmark)
  • Outstanding Delegation Award and Outstanding Position Paper, April 2017 (Spain)
  • 5 Outstanding Position Papers (GA2, GA5, UNFPA, IOM, UNEA) and Honorable Mention Delegation Award, April 2018 (New Zealand)
  • Distinguished Delegation Award, April 2019 (Poland)
  • Outstanding Position Paper Award (NPT), April 2020 (Madagascar)

3) Received scholarships from the following to cover her studies or internship:

  • Government of Belgium – 1976-1977 (Catholic University of Louvain)
  • International Rotary Foundation – 1977-1978 (Georgetown University)
  • Swiss Government – 1978-1979 (Geneva Graduate Institute of International Studies)
  • Commission of the European Economic Communities – 1979 (January to May) (for internship)