International Relations Of East Asia
The International Politics of East Asia course offers an in-depth academic examination of one of the world's most economically and politically important regions. Home to China and Japan, the world's second and third largest economies, East Asia is a major global hub for finance, manufacturing, and trade. However, this economic dynamism exists against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and unresolved conflicts that are the focus of this course.
The course begins with a historical context, tracing East Asia's development during the Cold War, a period marked by superpower rivalry and proxy wars. This historical perspective is crucial to understanding the region's contemporary political landscape, particularly the continuing impact of the Cold War legacy on current geopolitical tensions.
From there, the course moves on to an in-depth analysis of the modern dynamics within East Asia. Key areas of focus include:
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The evolving roles of major powers such as China, Japan, the United States and South Korea, and their influence on the regional geopolitical landscape.
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The strategic and political implications of China's rise as a regional and global power.
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Developments in East Asian regionalism.
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Issues concerning intra-regional security, with focus on the main flashpoints of tension such as the unresolved status of Taiwan, North Korea's nuclear ambitions, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
The course takes a multi-dimensional approach, using lectures, readings, and discussions to explore these issues. In addition, students will participate in a simulation exercise designed to provide practical insight into the region's complex political dynamics and future challenges. This exercise is designed to reinforce theoretical knowledge with experiential learning, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of East Asia's international politics.
Upon completion, students will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the key factors shaping East Asia's international politics, armed with both historical context and an appreciation for the region's current geopolitical intricacies.
Courses generally have little or no prerequisite knowledge required for a given topic, however if students face any doubts, we recommend they contact course professors to clarify.
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From Monday to Friday.
From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Class attendance: 30%
- Participation in discussions and other class activities: 35%
- Quizzes (two, equally weighted): 35%.
Class attendance: Students are expected to attend all this course’s lectures. Attendance will account for 30% of the overall course grade.
Participation in discussions and other class activities: Students are expected to participate in the proposed discussions and classroom-based activities, read the suggested materials, ask questions, listen to others and help generate a positive atmosphere in which everyone can contribute. The lecturer will propose a discussion at the end of each unit. Toward the end of the course, students will prepare and take part in a simulation exercise. Participation will account for 35% of the overall course grade.
Quizzes: students will take two short quizzes, which will account for 35% of the overall course grade. One to be conducted during the second week, and the other during the third week. The quizzes will cover the subjects covered in the lectures, proposed reading materials and discussions. Students will be allowed to refer to their class notes and suggested materials when taking the quizzes.
Books:
- Connors, M. K., Rémy Davison, and Björn Dosch. The New Global Politics of the Asia-Pacific. London: Routledge, 2018.
- Li, Xiaobing. The Cold War in East Asia. London: Routledge, 2018.
- Miller, Alice, and Richard Wich. Becoming Asia: Change and Continuity in Asian International Relations since World War II. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2011.
- Yahuda, Michael. The International Politics of the Asia-Pacific. Taylor & Francis Group, 2019.
Academic journal articles:
- Waler, J. & Azuma, H. (2016). The Rise of the Abe Doctrine. The National Interest, 1 February.
- Ramirez, C. (2017). Abe’s Trump Challenge and Japan’s Foreign Policy Choices. The Diplomat.
- Yan, X. (2013). Let's Not Be Friends. Foreign Policy, June 6.
- Chang-Liao, N.-C. (2019). From Engagement to Competition? The Logic of the US China Policy Debate. Global Policy, 10(2), 250-257. (in PDF)
- Mearsheimer, J. (2014). Can China Rise Peacefully. The National Interest, 25 October.
- Lankov, A. (2009). Why the United States will have to accept a nuclear North Korea. Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, 21(3), 251-264. doi:10.1080/10163270903087147 (in PDF)
- Lankov, A. (2017). Why Nothing Can Really Be Done about North Korea’s Nuclear Program. Asia Policy, 23(1), 104-110.
- Kuo, M. (2017). Regional Security Architectures: Comparing Asia and Europe. The Diplomat.
- Kang, D. C., & Ma, X. (2018). Power Transitions: Thucydides Didn’t Live in East Asia. The Washington Quarterly, 41(1), 137-154. doi:10.1080/0163660X.2018.1445905
Podcasts:
- CSIS Asia
- The Asia Chessboard
- China Power
- The Impossible State
- ECFR China and Asia Programme
- NK News Podcast
News:
- Asian politics and economics (general):
- Japan:
- South Korea
- North Korea
- China & Taiwan
Just Castillo Iglesias is a political scientist specialized in International Relations. He has developed his professional and academic career in prestigious institutions in Europe and Asia, including the European Institute of Public Administration (2007-2010), Osaka University (2011-2015), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (2012), the Ocean University of China (2015- 2017), and Waseda University (2017-2018). His main fields of interests are the international politics of East Asia and EU-East Asia relations. In 2014, he received a Ph.D. in International Public Policy by Osaka University with a thesis on the EU’s political and security relations with Japan and China. Currently, he teaches Politics and International Relations of East Asia at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and collaborates regularly with other institutions.
- E-mail: just.castillo@uab.cat
- Departament of Translation and Interpreting and East Asia Studies
Información complementaria
Where the course will take place
Facultat d'Educació, Aula Eduard Toldrà.
Contacto
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