Современное политико-экономическое развитие АТР

Бакалавриат 2019/2020

Статус: Курс по выбору (Международные отношения)

Направление: 41.03.05. Международные отношения

Кто читает: Департамент зарубежного регионоведения

Где читается: Факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики

Когда читается: 4-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Формат изучения: без онлайн-курса

Преподаватели: Канаев Евгений Александрович

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 4

Контактные часы: 52

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course offers an advanced analysis and debates of main trends shaping Asia- Pacific economic, political and security landscape. It is aimed at developing the students’ thorough understanding of and innovative thinking about the most critical areas of international relations in Asia-Pacific based on the innovative theory of imbalances in international relations which is currently being developed by a team of Russian scholars including the author. The Reading List given below each section is comprised of selected monographs, journal articles and on-line publications aimed to provide students with an in- depth, comprehensive and intellectually-stimulating analysis of topics under consideration. During the course innovative teaching technologies with a special emphasis on interactive forms of training are prioritized. Apart from academic lectures, these forms include round-table talks and expert debates, collective brainstorming in small groups, role plays, case studies and master-classes commissioned by the students. The emphasis is on developing skills of foresight in terms of identifying main future trends of Asia-Pacific economy, politics and security.

Learning Objectives

To discuss the influence of Asia-Pacific processes upon the global economy, politics and security and the repercussions of global trends upon the regional developments;
To thoroughly analyze the specificity of multilateral cooperation in Asia-Pacific along with the trans-Pacific and East Asian – South Asian and Eurasian tracks. Specifically, the emphasis is placed on APEC, Trans-Pacific Partnership, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN+3, ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting plus Eight, East Asia Summit, SAARC and Shanghai Cooperation Organization;
To give insights into the evolution and the present state of the key regional security challenges – the North Korean nuclear issue, the problem of Korean unification, Taiwan, the South China Sea, the North Limit Line, and the Mekong issues, as well as non-traditional security challenges
To comprehensively understand Russia’s policy in Asia-Pacific and the Russian dimension of Asia-Pacific economy, politics and security.
To specify the present priorities and outline the policies of main regional actors from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia;

Expected Learning Outcomes

to be able to comprehensively understand the specificity of Asia-Pacific multilateral cooperation on economic, political and security issues
to be able to elaborate on a conceptual approach to Asia-Pacific policies of main regional actors from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia
to be able to develop detailed knowledge and a well-grounded perspective of Russian regional policy and priorities
to be able to obtain improved analytical and presentational skills
to be able to gain in-depth knowledge of Asia-Pacific security challenges and approaches to keep them manageable

Course Contents

Asia-Pacific in Global Economy, Politics and Security
The specificity of Asia-Pacific in terms of geography, history and civilizational dimension. Asia-Pacific during the Cold War: trends of economic and political-security development. The globalization of Asia-Pacific processes after the end of the Cold War: stages and main directions. The influence of Asia-Pacific upon global economic processes: industrial vs innovative dimensions. The corporate map of Asia-Pacific. The development paradigm “Asia for Eurasia”: specificity, trends and interim results. Asia-Pacific and global security in the 1990s and 2010s: the paradigm change. The globalization of the strategic interests of main Asia-Pacific actors: reasons, outcomes, prospects. The rise of global dimension in main Asia-Pacific security challenges. The influence of the Ukrainian crisis upon the security and cooperation in Asia-Pacific.
Multilateral Cooperation in Asia-Pacific
2.1. The Trans-Pacific Vector (APEC, Trans-Pacific Partnership, ASEAN Regional Forum). APEC as a multilateral dialogue platform: key priorities and directions. APEC in China’s, ASEAN and Russia’s policies: main proposals and outcomes. TPP as a cooperative initiative: key reasons behind launching and interim results. China and TPP: an assessment of risks with relevance to prospective planning.2.2. The East Asian Vector (ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus Eight, Summit China – Japan – South Korea). ASEAN Plus Three as a multilateral dialogue platform. Infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia and contribution from ASEAN+3. Cooperation between ASEAN Plus Three members in the spheres of finance and food security: projects and outcomes. 2.3. The Eurasian Vector (Shanghai Cooperation Organization). China’s interests in SCO: the interplay of political, economic, security and prospective interests. SCO in debates with China political and expert community. Practical directions of China’s policy. SCO and China’s “March West”: the Economic Belt Silk Road Connection. SCO expansion: what does it mean for China?
Asia-Pacific Security Challenges and Responses
3.1. North Korean Nuclear Issue. Origins and evolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. Main phases of its development. Reasons behind the intention of North Korean leadership to develop and upgrade nuclear 6 weapons. The plutonium and the uranium programs. Attempts to find a negotiated settlement of the issue: the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) track, the 5+5 track, the Six-Party Talks. Main results of Six-Party talks and factors behind its failure. 3.2. The Unification of the Korean Peninsula. Inter-Korean dialogue: main phases and issues discussed. Change and continuity in the positions of North and South Korea. The comparison of North Korea’s and South Korea’s views on unification: their advantages and limitations. Economic and social costs of the Korean unification: views from Pyongyang and Seoul. 3.3. The North Limit Line Issue The North Limit Line issue in the Armistice Agreement signed between North Korea and the United Nations Command. The specificity of the North Limit Line issue in the 1950s – 1980s. North Korea’s position and UNCLOS III (1982). Reasons for uncompromising positions of North Korea and South Korea in the 1990s – 2010s. “The West Sea Military Demarcation Line”: the zones and waterways. 3.4. The South China Sea Issue 7 The key reasons behind the South China Sea dispute: the interplay of economic and political-security factors. The South China Sea resources: a comparison of various assessments. The global trade and geostrategic factors behind the South China Sea issue. Claims and claimants in the South China Sea. 3.5. The Mekong Issue Dams construction in the upper and the lower Mekong. Three dimensions of the Mekong issue: the environmental, the geopolitical and the institutional. China, Japan, and the US in Indochina: the Mekong River connection. The Mekong River Commission: an interim assessment of the obtained results. The Mekong issue and the local communities: the national and international dimensions.
Russia’s in Asia-Pacific: Trends, Outcomes, Tasks Ahead.
Russia’s main Asia-Pacific priorities (geo-economic, geopolitical, civilizational, prospective) and their national, regional and global dimensions. Russia and multilateral cooperation of Asia-Pacific: in search of a consolidating agenda. Russia and APEC: the priorities of Russia’s APEC chairmanship and the present Russian policy in APEC. Russia and ASEAN-led multilateral security initiatives: ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus Eight, East Asia Summit: the proposal of “indivisible security” and its practical implications. Russia and Asia-Pacific security challenges. Russia and North Korean nuclear issue: the approach and the practical steps. Russia and the South China Sea issue: developing a pragmatic 8 and problem-solving approach. Russia and non-traditional security challenges in Asia-Pacific: the food security and the energy security dimensions. Relations between Russia and its main Asia-Pacific partners. Russia and China: the energy vector of cooperation. Russia and Japan: moving beyond the territorial dispute. Russia and North and South Korea: a “double demand” for Russia and its practical implications. Russia and ASEAN: main directions and dynamics of cooperation. Russian arms transfers in Southeast Asia. The energy vector of cooperation. Innovative technologies as a promising area of Russia-ASEAN dialogue: main spheres and directions. Prospects for expanding economic cooperation between Russia and ASEAN: issues, solutions, and tasks ahead. Russia and the US in Asia-Pacific: in search of cooperative agenda.

Assessment Elements

The on-going control
The interim control is presented by the essay
The final control is presented by an examination

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (2 module)
0.5 * The final control is presented by an examination + 0.3 * The interim control is presented by the essay + 0.2 * The on-going control

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Dent, C. M., & Dosch, J. (2012). The Asia-Pacific, Regionalism and the Global System. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=464196

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Beeson, M. (2009). Institutions of the Asia-Pacific : ASEAN, APEC and Beyond. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=236553
Brewster, D. (2015). India as an Asia Pacific Power. Australia, Australia/Oceania: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.CC7E2E7E

Course Syllabus