East Asian International Relations

Bachelor 2021/2022

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Compulsory course (HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia)

Area of studies: Foreign Regional Studies

Delivered by: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Where: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 2 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Anna Kuteleva

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 60

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This is a required course for Politics and Economics in Asia, the HSE-KIC double degree program. This course examines contemporary developments in international relations in the East Asia. With four great powers, three nuclear weapons states and two of the world's largest economies, East Asia is one of the most dynamic and consequential regions in world politics. In the post-Cold War era, the region has been an engine of the global economy while undergoing a major shift in the balance power whose trajectory and outcome remain uncertain. This course will examine the sources of conflict and cooperation in East Asia, assessing competing explanations for key events in East Asia's international relations. The course is divided into two parts. The first part of the course (Module I) focuses on developing a general “toolkit” which we will further use to explain the dynamic and complexity of East Asian politics. We will critically engage with the major IR theories and debates. In the second part (Module II), the focus shifts to historical and contemporary patterns of relations among East Asian nations, histories of war and the politics of history and historical memory related to them, security alliances in East Asia, China’s rise, regional nuclear and missile diplomacy, territorial disputes, regional multilateral institutions, environmental challenges and energy security, and human rights. For the purposes of this course, East Asia is defined as the region encompassing China, Japan, and Korea. We will also discuss the role of the United States and Russia in the region, since both countries have been extensively involved in the region since the 1850s. We may make occasional reference to India and Southeast Asian countries, but the subcontinent and the larger Asia Pacific region are not a primary focus of this course.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to understand the historical legacies in East Asian international relations, analyze current East Asian foreign affairs through a theoretical lens, explain the impact of transnational issues on East Asian international relations, and evaluate the foreign policies of China, Japan, and Korea. Students will also learn to collect, analyze, document, and report research clearly, concisely, logically, and ethically via different mediums, including short reports, posters, and oral presentations.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students will develop the following skills: • Comparing, contrasting, and analyzing media reporting on international issues; • Planning a presentation with the audience in mind; • Developing clear objectives for their presentation;
Students will develop the following skills: • Considering ways of grabbing the listener's attention, holding their interest, and concluding strongly; • Using slides and visual aids effectively; • Delivering an enthusiastic and well-practised presentation; • Working collaboratively with others and reaching consensus in decision making.
Upon successful completion of this course students are expected to: • Be able to assess relative strengths and weaknesses of IR theories and approaches as they pertain to East Asia; • Be able to analyze world politics from a variety of perspectives; • Be able to apply IR theories to case studies.
Upon successful completion of this course students are expected to: • Be familiar with the key events that have shaped contemporary East Asian politics; • Understand and critically analyze factors and stakeholders that have shape relations between China, Japan, and Korea in the 21st century; • Effectively compare foreign policies of China, Japan, and Korea;

Course Contents

Week 1 Introduction: What is East Asia?
Week 2 The “neo-neo debates” in IR
Week 3 Constructivist approaches to IR
Week 4 Critical IR theories: Post-colonialism
Week 5 Critical IR theories: Feminism
Week 6 Non-Western IR
Week 7 Research workshop & discussion of group projects
Week 8 MID-TERM EXAM
Week 9 China’s foreign policy
Week 10 South Korean foreign policy
Week 11 Research workshop & discussion of group projects
Week 12 Nuclear crisis in the Korean Peninsular
Week 13 Japanese foreign policy
Week 14 Security alliances in East Asia
Week 15 Climate change politics in East Asia
Week 16 PRESENTATIONS & DISCUSSION OF GROUP PROJECTS
Week 17 FINAL EXAM

Assessment Elements

Research workshop and discussion of group projects (participation and in-class activities)
Participation during in-class activities
Mid-term exam
Final exam
Students should note that in all but exceptional situations ALL components of the course must be completed to receive a passing grade.
Media Scan
Final project: paper
Final project This assignment will consist from THREE components: 1. Short paper that develops the key points of the presentation (evaluated independently); 2. Poster; 3. In-class presentation
Final project: Poster presentations
Posters is a strong tool for communicating your research and ideas. This guide presents a strategy for producing a poster presentation that encourages clarity as well as creativity, helping you to make the most of your poster design. STEP 1: What is your goal? What is your question? What are you trying to achieve with your poster? Here are some popular goals: • Introduce a new issue/ problem to the audience; • Identify a gap in research; • Present original research findings; • Promote a new approach or idea. STEP 2: Who is your audience? Identify your audience and provide the appropriate scope and depth of content. If your audience includes non-specialists, cater to them. Many of the rules for writing a good paper apply to Posters too. Just as the abstract of a paper needs to be a succinct summary of the motivation, the principle arguments, major results, and conclusions, so does your poster. STEP 3: Title The title is a good way to sell your work. It may be the only thing the conference attendee sees before they reach your poster. The title should make them want to stop by your poster and learn more. The title might pose a decisive question, define the scope of the study, or hint at a new finding. Above all, the title should be short and comprehensible to a broad audience. The title is your equivalent of a newspaper headline—short, sharp, and compelling. STEP 4: Be creative Your poster should have your personality. A poster is a different medium from a paper, which is conventionally dry and impersonal. Think of your poster as an extension of yourself. Use it to draw the passerby to take a closer look or to want to talk to you. Many professional collaborations often start for reasons other than the shared interest, such as a personal interest. STEP 5: Layout and format What are the must-have elements of your poster? The first thing to do before you start working of your poster is to organize your text, images, graphs, charts, logos, etc. Poster requires you to distill the work, yet not lose the message or the logical flow. Remember that posters need to be viewed from a distance, usually more than a meter. You will need to make sure that your poster is legible and easy to scan at this distance so that your information is understood quickly. Avoid the temptation to fill the space with as much material as possible; poster presentations should never be as dense as a printed page Poster templates • PosterPresentations.com (free templates for PowerPoint): https://www.posterpresentations.com/free-poster-templates.html • Genigraphics (free templates for PowerPoint): https://www.genigraphics.com/templates • Rice University: http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj/templates.html • Sci-Gen Technologies (free trial of software): http://www.postergenius.com/cms/index.php Useful links • Midwest Political Science Association, Poster Guidelines and FAQs: https://www.mpsanet.org/Annual-Conference/2020-Conference/Presenter-Resources/Poster-Guidelines • University of Maryland, Creating a Research Poster: https://www.ugresearch.umd.edu/current-createresearchposter.html • University of California UC Berkley: https://hsp.berkeley.edu/documents • Giving an Effective Poster Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMSaFUrk-FA

Interim Assessment

2021/2022 1st module
0.4 * Mid-term exam + 0.15 * Research workshop and discussion of group projects (participation and in-class activities) + 0.15 * Participation during in-class activities + 0.3 * Media Scan
2021/2022 2nd module
0.35 * Final exam + 0.15 * Final project: paper + 0.15 * Participation during in-class activities + 0.35 * Final project: Poster presentations

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Acharya, A., & Buzan, B. (2007). Why is there no non-Western international relations theory? An introduction. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.712B98E3

Recommended Additional Bibliography

QIN, Y. (2007). Why is there no Chinese international relations theory? Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.A6468D84

Course Syllabus