Kevin Cooney is an Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations. He received his B.A. Summa cum Laude from Oral Roberts University (1988). His M.A. was in International Relations and Strategic Studies and comes from Lancaster University in England (1989) where he attended on a Rotary Foundation Fellowship. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Arizona State University (2000). His doctorial dissertation focused on the changes in Japanese foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. Dr. Cooney teaches courses in International Relations, Comparative Governments, International Security, Asian Politics, Terrorism, Human Rights, and Democratization.
Experience: Dr. Cooney has traveled to or lived in over 47 countries and been to every continent except for Antarctica. He has twice traveled around the globe. He has taught previously at the university level in the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Western Oregon University, Arizona State University, and Grand Canyon University as well as having taught for three years in the public school system in Japan. He has previously led two study abroad trips to Cuba (under US government license) and three short term youth/medical mission trips to Iceland and Nicaragua with his church. He has also worked an expert commentator for newspapers, radio, and television on American politics, international security, and East Asian affairs.
Research: Dr. Cooney has two primary areas of ongoing research. The first is in Japanese politics (both domestic and international) and East Asian security issues. The second area of ongoing research is in human rights and religious persecution with a focus on Asia. He presents papers regularly at the conferences of the International Studies Association and the Asian Studies Association as well as other conferences. This past spring he was a finalist for the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations Fellowship.
Publications: Dr. Cooney’s first book, Japan’s Foreign Policy maturation: A Quest for Normalcy was published in 2002 by Routledge Publishers. His latest peer-reviewed publication appeared in Asian Perspective (Fall 2005) and was entitled: “Alternative Visions of Japanese Security: the Role of Absolute and Relative Gains in the Making of Japanese Security policy?” His second book is a textbook entitled Japan’s Foreign Policy since 1945 was published in October 2006 from M.E. Sharpe Publishers. He is now finishing on his third book: Rising China: America and East Asia Respond.
Personal: Born in California and raised in Oregon, Dr. Cooney now lives in Jackson, Tennessee with his wife Atsuko and their two children, Aiyana and Kian. He enjoys working with international students and talking politics with Union University students. In his spare time he enjoys the outdoors, photography, playing with his children, and gourmet cooking.
