Russia in East Asia: New Opportunities and Challenges in the XXIst Century

2022/2023

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

3

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

4 year, 1, 2 module

Instructor

Дружинин Николай Львович

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course reveals the meaning, significance and difficulties of Russia's Pivot to Asia as a natural process of increasing activity both in the Russian Far East and in Asia-Pacific region as a whole. The course contains an analysis of the existing relations between Russia and states of this region. The course examines the key issues of modern history, economy and culture of East Asian countries, shows their specifics, highlights the evolution of Russia's international relations with these countries, and analyzes the contradictions and obstacles encountered along the way. The main focus is on political relations, economic cooperation and cultural interaction between Russia and the leading East Asian countries - China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The course is aimed at studying the institutional systems of East Asian countries and comparing them with Russian realities in order to more accurately determine the points of intersection of mutual interests, opportunities, as well as assess the challenges, origins of conflicts and disagreements on a number of issues. At the same time, the course examines a number of aspects of Russian participation in international regional organizations and forums. The course demonstrates the existing possibilities for a serious strengthening of Russia's positions in the Asia-Pacific region due to more active involvement in the international division of labor and increased cooperation with countries of the region that is becoming a powerful political and economic pole. The course is divided into two modules. The first part (Module 1) includes the study of general approaches to the analysis of Russia's positions in the Asia-Pacific region, consideration of theoretical tools, methods of institutional analysis used in further research. The Module 1 is also devoted to an overview of the key points in the historical development of East Asia, the evolution of Russia's international relations with the countries of the region, as well as issues of the development of the Russian Far East. Attention is also focused on the study of the specifics of East Asian countries and its dependence on the trajectory of previous development. It also examines the currently operating forms of economic cooperation between the countries of the Asia-Pacific region (APEC, SCO, ASEAN), studies the goals of the activities and mechanisms of functioning of these international regional organizations, as well as their possibilities in the development of comprehensive cooperation between the countries of the region, including Russia. The key issue of maintaining the balance of political forces in the region and the importance of strengthening the role of Russia as a factor of stability are comprehensively studied; the challenges and prospects generated by China's powerful economic leap are analyzed. The second part of the course (Module 2) is devoted to examining the prospects for strengthening Russia's position in the Asia-Pacific region, contains a detailed analysis of modern bilateral relations between Russia and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, including an analysis of political problems of interaction. The Module 2 analyzes challenges that Russia faces on the path of the Pivot to Asia, the obstacles that must be overcome in order to use the full potential and opportunities of cooperation with the dynamically developing Asia-Pacific region, including South Asian countries. The contribution of Russia and other states of the region to the solution of the most acute socio-political and economic problems (the fight against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, environmental pollution, poverty, etc.) is analyzed. Special attention is paid to assessing the role of Russia and its capabilities in resolving the nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula and the prospects for resolving territorial problems and concluding a peace treaty with Japan. Also, within the framework of Module 2, the most important Russian energy projects (Sakhalin, Power of Siberia, etc.) are studied as an integral part of the overall energy security system.

Learning Objectives

• 1. To provide students with theoretical tools that allow them to understand the essence of the internal specifics of the countries of the region and assess the logic of the changes taking place in it;
• 2. to develop students' skills in using institutional analysis when comparing the social structure of Russia and the countries of Asia-Pacific, as well as when comparing Russian and East Asian approaches to solving the most important political and economic problems;
• 3. to acquaint students with the history of formation and the main stages in the development of relations between Russia and the states of East Asia;
• 4. to form in students a comprehensive understanding of the current state of international relations of Russia in Asia-Pacific, as well as the prospects for their development and problems that complicate mutually beneficial cooperation;
• 5. to train students to conduct an academic analysis of the activities of international organizations uniting Russia and the countries of East Asia on the way to solving the most pressing problems of the region;
• 6. to develop an understanding of the broad opportunities that the Pivot to Asia offers Russia, as well as a clear awareness of the obstacles that stand in this way;
• 7. to initiate a systematic and holistic view on the basic theoretical approaches to international relations in the region

Expected Learning Outcomes

• – the ability to work in a team, build competent communication during discussions and presentations;
• – To acquire new knowledge by applying scientific methods of analysis and using a wide range of oriental scientific sources;
• – to be able to systematize the historical experience of reform in the countries under consideration;
• – to compare the East Asian state and social systems with the Russian political and social structure, to analyze the reasons for the obvious significant differences, both in the way of economic thinking and in approaches to solving economic issues in Russia and the countries of East Asia;
• – to describe the current state and prospects for the development of international relations between Russia and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as give examples of economic cooperation between Russia and the countries of East Asia, which are important trade partners of our country (China, Japan, Republic of Korea);
• – to explain what connects Russia with the countries of East Asia, and what role Russia plays in Asia-Pacific region;
• – to formulate the developed approaches to solving the most important international problems of the region
• – to identify the internal cause-and-effect relationship of externally disparate social and political events, isolating the essence of the events taking place
• – to prepare and correctly execute written works.
• – to prove the importance of the institutions formed over the years in modern politics, economy and public life, as well as to highlight the main features of the specific institutional systems of the countries of East Asia;
• – to reveal the meaning of the creation and participation of Russia in large international organizations linking the countries of Asia-Pacific;

Course Contents

• Week 1. Introduction. Overview of the course. Asia-Pacific region and its specificity
• Week 2. East Asia’s changes in the Post-Soviet era, the evolution of Russia’s role in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Week 3. Russia’s Pivot to Asia, new challenges and cooperation with Asia-Pacific international organizations
• Week 4. Russia as an important actor in the Asia-Pacific region. Eastern Economic Forum
• Week 5. The development of the Far East as a main step of the Russia’s Pivot to the East
• Week 6. Russian-Chinese ties and cooperation in the Far East
• Week 7. Summarizing up the first training module, final discussion, presentations. Mid-term exam.
• Week 8. China as biggest Russian partner in the East Asia: the new opportunities
• Week 9. Russia’s pivot and new power bloc and new balance in Asia Pacific.
• Week 10. The role of Russian energy export to East Asia.
• Week 11. South Korea as a Global Power. Russian-South Korean relations.
• Week 12. Russian-North Korean relations. Nuclear problem.
• Week 13. Russia’s Strategy in Southeast Asia. Russian cooperation with ASEAN.
• Week 14. Russian-Japanese relations. The Problem of Southern Kurils / Northern territories.
• Summarizing up the second training module, final discussion, presentations. Final Exam

Assessment Elements

• TEST 2
• ATTENDANCE
• HOMEWORK (ESSAYS)
  Student can independently choose subject of essay or report within the respective theme of the course “Russia in Asia-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities” or take one of the topics proposed. Students should not take exactly the same topic of reports/essays. Students distribute (allocate) dates of their performances among themselves. It is necessary (preferable), that the essay/report themes correspond to the topics of classes. It is desirable that there is approximately the same number of speakers in each session. It is extremely important that there are no sessions without speakers. If it is impossible to speak, the student has the opportunity to set a different date for the speech, but must exchange performance dates with someone and warn the teacher in advance, provided that the seminar is missing for a good reason. In the absence of a valid reason, the student receives "0" for this type of control. The percentage of originality in the essay/report should be at least 80%. Please check out what is considered plagiarism here https://www.hse.ru/data/2015/09/08/1088822413/ethics_thesis.pdf The essay/report must be submitted to the teacher in writing before speaking to the teacher's E-Mail for written works of students (A180185@yandex.ru). If the essay/report was sent to the teacher's e-mail, but the student did not present it in the class, did not speak with it and did not answer the questions, the task is considered completed only by 50%. The essay/report begins with the presentation of the title, plan, goals and objectives of the speech to the audience, and ends with conclusions and a list of sources and research used in its preparation. The student must demonstrate the ability to logically and consistently present both his own ideas and the content of the refereed scientific works. The student must identify and formulate the main ideas of the material under study, highlight the author's concepts, generalize the studied material, cite someone else's text academically correctly, compile a bibliographic description of the refereed material in accordance with general requirements. All assignments are due via email. They must be in Word or PDF format. Each file should be properly named: №GROUP_SURNAME_TYPE AND NUMBER OF ASSINGMENT. E.g.: 125_Ivanov_Essay1.doc or 125_Ivanov_Report2.pdf.
• IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION (REPORTS+PRESENTATIONS)
• TEST 1
  If the student did not pass the tests for the first time, then the student gets “0” and can retake the tests once (at one of the next classes, in agreement with teacher).
• FINAL EXAM

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 2nd module
  0.1 * TEST 2 + 0.2 * FINAL EXAM + 0.2 * HOMEWORK (ESSAYS) + 0.1 * TEST 1 + 0.15 * ATTENDANCE + 0.25 * IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION (REPORTS+PRESENTATIONS)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Blakkisrud, H. (2017). Russia’s turn to the East: The Ministry for the Development of the Far East, and the domestic dimension.
• China-Russia relations and regional dynamics [Elektronische Ressource] : from pivots to peripheral diplomacy / ed. by Lora Saalman. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. (2017). Sipri - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
• Dibb, P. V. (DE-588)141669659, (DE-627)704037564, (DE-576)160727553, aut. (2019). How the geopolitical partnership between China and Russia threatens the West Paul Dibb ; ASPI, Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
• Fattibene, D. (2015). Russia’s pivot to Asia [Elektronische Ressource] : myths and realities / by Daniele Fattibene. Istituto Affari Internazionali.
• Gorenburg, D. P. . V. (DE-588)141779667, (DE-627)704061805, (DE-576)409446866, aut. (2019). Russia’s strategy in Southeast Asia Dmitry Gorenburg, CNA, Harvard University, Paul Schwartz, CNA ; PONARS Eurasia - New Approaches to Research and Security in Eurasia.
• Lo, B. V. (DE-588)136778704, (DE-627)587246081, (DE-576)182102718, aut. (2019). Once more with feeling Russia and the Asia-Pacific Bobo Lo, Lowy Institute.
• Lubina, M. V. (DE-588)1143872649, (DE-627)1003433197, (DE-576)495199478, aut. (2017). Russia and China a political marriage of convenience – stable and successful Michał Lubina.
• Mie Oba. (2019). Further development of Asian regionalism: institutional hedging in an uncertain era. https://doi.org/10.1080/24761028.2019.1688905
• Miller, C. (2017). Japan-Russia relations [Elektronische Ressource] : the view from Moscow / by Chris Miller. German Marshall Fund of the United States.
• Regional security outlook ... Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP). (2007).
• Westermann, J. V. (DE-588)1161559191, (DE-627)1024842282, (DE-576)506728625, aut. (2018). Putin and North Korea exploring Russian interests around the peninsula Jacqueline Westermann ; ASPI, Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Alexeeva, O. (2011). Chinese Migration in the Russian Far East.
• Atanassova-Cornelis, E. (DE-576)381620700. (2015). Pride and prejudice [Elektronische Ressource] : maritime disputes in Northeast Asia / Elena Atanassova-Cornelis, Ramon Pacheco and Eva Pejsova. [Foreword Antonio Missiroli]. European Union Institute for Security Studies.
• Cordesman, A. H. . V. (DE-588)132834979, (DE-627)527714593, (DE-576)160622204, aut. (2018). The Korean civil-military balance Anthony H. Cordesman with the assistance of Nick Harrington ; Burke Chair in Strategy.
• Cordesman, A. H. . V. (DE-588)132834979, (DE-627)527714593, (DE-576)160622204, aut. (2019). China and the U.S.: cooperation, competition and/or conflict an experimental assessment : full report Anthony H. Cordesman (Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy), with the assistance of Max Molot.
• Haas, M. de. (2013). Russian-Chinese security relations : Moscow’s threat from the East? / Michael de Haas. Clingendael Institute.
• Howe, B., & Park, M. J. (2019). South Korea’s (Incomplete) Middle-Power Diplomacy toward Asean. International Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies, 15(2), 117–142. https://doi.org/10.21315/ijaps2019.15.2.5
• Japan’s global diplomacy [Elektronische Ressource] : views from the next generation / ed. by Yuki Tatsumi. Stimson. (2015).
• Ji Won Yun. (2015). International Cooperation for the Construction of South Korea - North Korea - Russia Pipeline Natural Gas (PNG): Effectiveness and Restrictions. Journal of East Asian Affairs, 29(1), 71–100.
• June Teufel Dreyer. (2016). Middle Kingdom and Empire of the Rising Sun : Sino-Japanese Relations, Past and Present. Oxford University Press.
• Shin-Wha Lee, & Chun Young Park. (2017). Korea’s Middle Power Diplomacy for Human Security: A Global and Regional Approach. Journal of International & Area Studies, 24(1), 21–44.
• Stronski, P. V. (DE-588)1139397028, (DE-576)350614059, aut. (2018). Cooperation and competition : Russia and China in Central Asia, the Russian Far East, and the Arctic / Paul Stronski and Nicole Ng ; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
• Sun-Woo Lee, & Hyungjin Cho. (2018). A Subtle Difference between Russia and China’s Stances toward the Korean Peninsula and Its Strategic Implications for South Korea. Journal of International & Area Studies, 25(1), 113–130.
• Sussex, M. (2015). Russia’s Asian rebalance [Elektronische Ressource] / Matthew Sussex. Lowy Institute for International Policy.
• Trenin, D. V. . (DE-588)114738327, (DE-576)175880190. (2015). From Greater Europe to Greater Asia? [Elektronische Ressource] : The Sino-Russian entente / Dmitri Trenin. Moscow: Carnegie Moscow Center. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.448993783