MUTO Ako

Ph.D. (Global Society Studies), Graduate School of Global Studies, Doshisha University, Japan
MA (History), Graduate School of Letters, Keio University, Japan
BA (History), Faculty of Letters, Keio University, Japan

April 2023　Specially Appointed Research Fellow, JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development
July 2020　Executive Senior Research Fellow, JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development
April 2016　Senior Research Fellow, JICA Research Institute
February 2012　Senior Representative, JICA Syria and Jordan Office
April 2011　Director, Office for Gender Equality and Poverty Reduction, Economic Infrastructure Department, JICA
April 2008　Director, Gender Equality Division, Public Policy Department


Prior careers in JICA: Yokohama International Center, Grant Aid Department, Africa, Middle East and Europe Department, JICA Syria Office, Agriculture Development Department, and others

Ako Muto, Kota Sugitani, Kaito Takeuchi, and Nobuaki Oyama, “The History of Human Security Research with a Focus on the Work of the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development,” in the Report Human Security Today, JICA Ogata Research Institute, Vol.1, 2022, pp. 27-53. ISSN 2758-3619

Ako Muto, “The Challenges and Effects of Externally Driven and Locally Driven Peacebuilding Approaches in a Complex Context: A Case Study of the Syrian Conflict,” in Cedric de Coning, Rui Saraiva and Ako Muto eds., Adaptive Peacebuilding: A New Approach to Sustaining Peace in the 21st Century, Cham; Palgrave Macmillan. 2023. pp. 179-206. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18219-8_7

Maryam Alkubati and Ako Muto, “An Exploration of the Dimensions of Exclusion Associated with Intimate Violence Among Syrian Refugees in Lebanon,” in Moosa A. Elayah and Laurent A. Lambert eds., Conflict and Post-Conflict Governance in the Middle East and Africa, Cham; Palgrave Macmillan. 2023. pp. 95-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-23383-8_5

Yoichi Mine and Ako Muto, " The Emerging Human Security Norm in East Asia: Toward an Epistemic Community,” in Gerd Oberleitner ed., Research Handbook on International Law and Human Security. Cheltenham; Northampton, MA; Edward Elgar Publishing. 2022, pp. 403-418. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800376977.00034

Ako Muto, "Exploring Mediation Efforts Amid Systemic and Domestic Constraints: The Case of the Syrian Conflict," in Cedric de Coning, Ako Muto, and Rui Saraiva eds., Adaptive Mediation and Conflict Resolution: Peace-making in Colombia, Mozambique, the Philippines, and Syria, Palgrave Macmillan, 2022, pp.137-163. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92577-2_6

Ako Muto and Rui Saraiva, "Assessing Context-Specific Peacebuilding Approaches in Contemporary Armed Conflicts: From High-Level Mediation to Middle-Out Linkage in Syria and from Adaptive Mediation to Nationally-Owned Peacebuilding in Mozambique," Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, Vol.8, No.2, 2020, pp. 241-264, DOI: 10.18588/202011.00a128

Ako Muto, "Human Security Norms in East Asia: Towards Conceptual and Operational Innovation," Journal of Conflict Transformation and Security, Vol.8, No.1, 2020, pp.68-84.　

Ako Muto and Rui Saraiva, "Contextualizing the Sustaining Peace Approach in Contemporary Armed Conflicts: From High-Level International Mediation to Pragmatic Peacebuilding Initiatives in Syria," Journal of Human Security Studies: Special Issue, 2020-1, pp, 39-56, DOI: https://doi,org/10,34517/jahss,9,2_39

Ako MUTO, “Variations to Humanitarian and Development Assistance during Conflict: A Case Study Analysis of Assistance Provided to Syria”, The United Nations Studies, Number 20, 2019、pp. 193-213. (in Japanese)

Yoichi Mine, Oscar A. Gómez and Ako Muto, “Human Security in East Asia: Assembling a Puzzle”, Chapter 1, in Yoichi Mine, Oscar A. Gómez and Ako Muto eds., Human Security Norms in East Asia, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019, pp. 1-22.

Ako Muto and Yoichi Mine, “The Way Forward: The Power of Diversity”, Chapter 14, in ditto, pp.295-309.

Carolina G. Hernandez, Eun Mee Kim, Ren Xiao, Yoichi Mine and Ako Muto, “Conclusion: Ownership and Collaboration for Human Security in East Asia”, Chapter 13, in Carolina G. Hernandez, Eun Mee Kim, Ren Xiao, Yoichi Mine eds., Human Security and Cross-Border Cooperation in East Asia, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019, pp. 271-287.

Ako Muto and Sachiko Ishikawa, “Japanese contributions to peacebuilding, development, and human security in Southeast Asia”, Chapter 4, in Brendan Howe ed., Regional Cooperation for Peace and Development: Japan and South Korea in Southeast Asia, Routledge, 2019, pp. 71-95.

Ako MUTO, “The meaning and problem of resilience-based international assistance to a country under the influence of conflict - the case of assistance to Syria”, Journal of Global Studies Vol.8, 2017, pp. 161-175. (in Japanese)
https://global-studies.doshisha.ac.jp/attach/page/GLOBAL_STUDIES-PAGE-EN-73/95808/file/vol8-08.pdf

Oscar A. Gómez, Ako Muto and Sachiko G. Kamidohzono, “Sharing the journey: the way ahead for human development and human security frameworks”, Background paper for Human Development Report 2016, United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report Office, 2016.
http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/sharing-journey-way-ahead-human-development-and-human-security-frameworks

Japan Association for United Nations Studies, Japan Association for Human Security Studies, The Japan Association of International Relations, The Japan Society for International Development, Japan Society for Humanitarian Action Studies