Course content

The course focuses mainly on East Asian politics and society. The main focus is on the post-Cold War, the rise of techno-economic dynamics in East Asia, the emergence of multilateral institutions, East Asian "values" versus Western “values”, the war against terrorism, the rise of China and its complex relationship with Japan and the U.S. and the East Asian countries’ relationship to Europe. The course also provides an insight into the domestic political systems in Japan, China and Korea. It also examines different scenarios for the Asian regional politics and the different countries' domestic politics and the region's place in and impact on the global political system of our century.

Learning outcome

Knowledge - the student shall:
- have knowledge of how theory and empirical data are tied together in political science research work in the field of East-Asia and international politics.
Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to:
- treat one of the themes which was discussed in instruction in an independent empirical analytical manner which fulfills the requirements for scientific writing.
- be able to orally discuss and reflect over one’s own written work and the themes which were taken up during teaching.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars equivalent to 4 hours per week. Guidance in writing the term paper.

Compulsory assignments

• Bokpresentasjon

Recommended previous knowledge

See required previous knowledge.

Required previous knowledge

60 credits including SOS1002 or an equivalent course in research methods. The requirement must be fulfilled to be admitted to the course.

Course materials

Given at the start of the semester