Course content

This course focuses on the international and comparative politics of Japan and East Asia. It briefly traces the legacy of the Sino-Centric tributary order, the impact of Western imperialism after 1838 and East Asian reactions, and the impact of the bipolar Cold War structure of international politics on regional inter-state and domestic politics. The rest of the course focuses on the post-cold-war decade of the 1990s, the rise of techno-economic dynamism in East Asia, the rise of regional multilateral institutions, East “Asian values” as a challenge to western values, East Asia under unipolarity and the war on terrorism, the rise of China, its complex relations with Japan and the US, and finally, China Japan and more generally, Asia’s relationship with Europe. It considers why China’s rise has not yet triggered counter-balancing responses from other East Asian nations, and looks at the legacies of the Sino-Centric tributary and domestic politics as possible explanations. The course then looks at domestic political systems in Japan, China and Korea. Finally, the course concludes by considering several scenarios for Asian regional politics and domestic politics (the prospects for Chinese democratization and implications if China does not democratize; the evolution of Japan’s one-party dominant democratic system, Korean politics), and this region’s place in, and impact upon, the global political system over the next decade.

Learning outcome

The course aims to give the student knowledgde to in how theory and empirical material together are used in political science in the field of East-Asia ind international politics.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars equivalent to 4 hours per week. Guidance in writing the term paper. The oral exam contains questions from both the term paper and the rest of the pensum. The oral exam could adjust the grade with one step.

Compulsory assignments

• Book presentation

Recommended previous knowledge

See required previous knowledge.

Required previous knowledge

POL1000 or a minimum of 60 points in history, sociology or equivalent.

Course materials

Given at the start of the semester