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The first 8-episode series of Waseda University’s English podcast “Rigorous Research, Real Impact” is currently streaming for free on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

In episode 2, the conversation with Professor Lara Tienshi Chen of the School of International Studies continues. She introduces the impactful work she has done to support people who are stateless and shares her views on how society needs to change so they can live comfortably. Below is an excerpt from the episode.

You can read the full transcript by clicking the above episode banner.

Question: Can you tell us about the NPO you founded, Stateless Network?

Professor Chen: The “Stateless Network” is an organization that supports stateless people, and it was founded in January 2009 to join with stateless people and take seriously the trouble they face and to work toward creating a society where people would not face discrimination for not possessing a nationality. There are various types of stateless people. Among them are those who do not have legal status and their concerns are very serious. They aren’t able to return to the country from which they were originally from and their lives in Japan are very restricted. Some cannot even work or go to hospital and so on. The Stateless Network is raising awareness about these issues both in Japan and abroad and is aiming for a society where stateless people can also live in comfort.

Question: What do we need to do to support stateless individuals in society?  

Professor Chen: That’s very important. I think in today’s social system, they take nationality for granted. And many times, human rights are based on nationality. If you have a nationality, then your human rights start from it. But I think it’s a bit strange, you know, because human beings are already there no matter their nationality whether it is Japanese or, you know, Indian or without any nationality, we do have to give human rights to these people. I think that today’s society is a bit, you know, opposite– from the top down, but not from the grassroots. I am, as an anthropologist, I try to face one by one every individual and support them with what they need. When they say they need healthcare, we [the NPO Stateless Network] try to connect them to the people providing healthcare. And when they say they want to get married, we try to find the information for people without, you know, nationality. So, they can have a stable marriage or end up meeting their goal. I think that’s very important as a human being to see every individual as having an equal right. That’s what I’m trying to do, not to see every individual from the top down and give the nationality, then your human rights start. You know, that’s the opposite of what I think.

About the Guest:

Professor Lara Tienshi Chen obtained her PhD in International Political Economy from the University of Tsukuba. She went on to conduct research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Harvard University, and the University of Tokyo. She worked for the National Musuem of Ethnology, Osaka prior to joining Waseda’s School of International Liberal Studies in 2013. Professor Chen is also the founder of the NPO Stateless Network and works closely with the student volunteer club Stateless Network Youth.