Course syllabus

POLITICS 706: International Relations in Asia

SEMESTER 1, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor: 

Gerald Chan  - gerald.chan@auckland.ac.nz

Course delivery format:

2 hours of seminar per week

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 Summary of Course Description:              

A theoretical perspective based on empirical analyses that draws on Western theories to examine burgeoning perspectives from the rising East. The empirical analyses cover North Korea’s nuclear crisis, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, relations across the Taiwan Strait as well as regional trade, investment and finance.

Course outcomes:

A student who successfully completes this course will have the opportunity to:

• understand the history of conflict and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, especially since the end of the Second World War
• analyse the causes of war and conditions of peace in the region
• evaluate different approaches to the study of the politics, economics, and society of the region
• debate about the policy implications of various issues that impact on the power relations among states and non-state actors in the region
• assess the rise of Asia and its impact on the world.

 Assessment Summary:

10% oral presentation     tba

50% essay                      23 May 2018

40% exam                       tba         

Weekly Topics:

1. Introduction
2. IR in Asia: origins and development
3. Theoretical approaches: West vs. East?
4. Asia as a region: regionalism and multilateralism
5. Security in the Asia-Pacific region
6. Trade and finance in the region
7. New Silk Roads: connectivity and development
8. North Korea and the Six-Party talks
9. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
10. Cross-Taiwan Strait: conflict and its impact
11. Conclusion

Prescribed Texts:

Shambaugh, David and Michael Yahuda (eds), International relations of Asia, 2nd ed (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2014).

 Recommended Texts:

For recommended texts and readings, please refer to the full syllabus on Files.

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.