GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education
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In the post-Cold War era, the region has been undergoing a major shift in the balance of power while struggling with the legacies of the Cold War. With a rising China, a more assertive Japan, a potentially nuclear-armed North Korea and two divided nations- Korea and China, Northeast Asia is growing in importance in global economy, security, and major power relations in the 21st century. The aim of this module is to explore major geopolitical and security issues in Northeast Asia by adopting various international relations approaches. It focuses on the analysis of both issues to regional peace and stability and opportunities for regional cooperation.
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. examine the historical and geopolitical context of Northeast Asia since the Cold War era
b. Analyse key security policy challenges and opportunities in Northeast Asia
c. assess the applicability of various concepts and international relations approaches to explain concrete security developments in Japan, China, Taiwan and the two Koreas, together with the US as a major external actor
d. Critically evaluate the theoretical implications or significance of historical and contemporary Northeast Asian security developments
1. Security Studies and social sciences
2. Historical and geo-political context of regional security in Northeast Asia
2.1 Northeast Asia: the security environment
2.2 An age of fear: Northeast Asia in the Cold War
2.3 Everything changes – visions of order and anarchy in PostWar Northeast Asia
2.4 International relations approaches and security
3. China’s rise and US strategy in Northeast Asia
3.1 China’s peaceful rise
3.2 Containment vs. Engagement: US perspective
4. Japan’s security transformation and the US-Japan Alliance
4.1 Origins of the US-Japan Alliance
4.2 Japan: building as a normal state
4.3 Encountering the rise of China
5. Nationalism and historical legacies: China, South Korea, and Japan
5.1 Legacy of WWII
5.2 Territorial disputes
5.3 Economic competition and cooperation
6. Identity, security and unification: Taiwan
6.1.Cross-strait relations
6.2.US factor
6.3.From confrontation to harmonious relationship
7. Nuclear proliferation: North Korea
7.1 The impossible state in the region
7.2 Inside multilateralism: the Six-Party talk
8. Non-traditional security in Northeast Asia
8.1 Regional public health: pandemic diseases
8.2 Environmental protection
9. Institutional building and regional order in Northeast Asian security
1. Class exercise (10%)
2. Test (30%)
3. Presentation (20%)
4. Individual research paper (40%)
1. Alagappa, M. (ed.). (2003). Asian Security Order: Instrumental and Normative Features. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
2. Shambaugh, D. and Yahuda, M. (eds.). (2008). International Relations of Asia. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.
3. Suh, J.J., Katzenstein, P. J., & Carlson, A. (eds.). (2004). Rethinking Security in East Asia. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
4. Sutter, R. G. (2005). China’s Rise in Asia: Promises and Perils. PA: Rowman & Littlefield.
5. Tellis, A. J., Marble, A., & Tanner, T. (2010). Strategic Asia 2010-11: Asia’s Rising Power and America’s Continued Purpose. Seattle: The National Bureau of Asian Research.
6. Tellis, A. J. & Wills, M. (eds.). (2007). Strategic Asia 2007-08: Domestic Political Change and Grand Strategy. Seattle: The National Bureau of Asian Research.
