Security in the Asia-Pacific Region

Master 2020/2021

Type: Elective course (International Relations: European and Asian Studies)

Area of studies: International Relations

Delivered by: School of International Affairs

Where: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 1 year, 3, 4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Vasily Kashin, Anastasia Pyatachkova

Master’s programme: International Relations: European and Asian studies

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 60

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course provides a perspective of the main issues affecting the security of the Asian Pacific region, the relations between the key regional players and the Russian involvement in the regional affairs. The course will focus on the Chinese policies and will examine the current trends in the development of the Chinese foreign policy, defense, defense industrial policies and their effects on the behaviour of the other regional players. The current structure and evolution of the Chinese State and Party organs involved in the foreign policy and security decision making will also be examined. The final objective is to explain how the quickly evolving security situation in the Asia Pacific is affecting the policies of the countries, big and small all around the world and how they are affecting, and will affect in future, the global economy.

Learning Objectives

The course aims to initiate a broad discussion on key trends shaping the current evolution of the Asia-Pacific region
The principal tasks of the course stem from its aim and include discussions on: сonceptual issues related to the security in North-East Asia; the specificity of key regional security challenges; issues related to the connectivity schemes spanning through the Asia-Pacific region.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Explains the specificity of Asia-Pacific security challenges and systemic and multidimensional approach to analyzing key trends shaping the political and security landscape of the Asia-Pacific region
Understands the specificity of Asia-Pacific security challenges and systemic and multidimensional approach to analyzing key trends shaping the political and security landscape of the Asia-Pacific region
Formulates the major cooperation tools in the region, main actors and organizations involved in the regional processes
Analyses China historical development; clear vision of China's role in Asia Pacific and its impact on the regional and global processes
Formulates the Korean Peninsula issue, knowledge of the mechanisms for the issue settlements
Names the other major actors in Asia Pacific and their role in regional development

Course Contents

General tendencies in security development in the Asia-Pacific region
Specific features of the Asia-Pacific region in terms of economics and politics; the main state and non-state actors in the region; China-USA geopolitical rivalry in Asia-Pacific and its impact on the regional situation; Sino-Japanese rivalry; competing military/technological strategies; US strategic concept; Sino-US security relations under Xi Jinping, changes in the relationship since the beginning of the Trump presidency; role of Japanese factor in the Sino-American security relations
Multilateral сooperation in Asia-Pacific
ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus Eight; Shanghai Cooperation Organization; APEC; Trans-Pacific Partnership, 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; QUAD; China's One Belt One Road Initiative as a global and regional strategy
Asia-Pacific security challenges: traditional and non-traditional threats
The main problems of the region and its influency on its sustainable development; traditional threats: territorial disputes, unsolved historical conflicts between countries, nuclear energy problem, economic development gap of the states; non-traditional threats: cybersecurity, terrorism, ecological issues, supply problem; Senkaku/Diaoyudao problem: escalation in 2010s, reasons; political/military measures by Japan and China
China’s role in regional security
The organization of the Chinese military and intelligence agencies; the uniqueness of the Chinese Party-Army relations, with deep differences with the Soviet practices; the evolution and the political role of the Chinese defense industry; China's historical conflicts with India, Vietnam, Japan; the evolution of PRC's foreign policy, China's approach and methods of problem solution, the PLA structure and functions, defense industry development; evolution of Chinese strategy; the most important turning points: Mao’s Era; China’s defense issues in 1970s - early 1980s; China’s defense and security in 1990s and 2000-10s
The Korean peninsula as a factor of regional political instability
Origins and evolution of the North Korean nuclear issue; the specifics of the North Korean regime; relationships between North and South Korea; settlements of the issue: the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) track, the 5+5 track, the Six-Party Talks; the formation of DPRK regime; DPRK and the great powers; the regime after the USSR collapse; the current DPRK political/economic model; North Korean civilian industry; the Chinese approach to the relations with the DPRK; the evolution of the North Korean military capabilities and their influence on the US military posture in the North East Asia
Other major actors in Asia-Pacific and regional security
USA's "Pivot to Asia' policy and its evolution, role of America in regional stability; role of Japan as a economically and technically developed state in the region's growth; imlications for India, its "Act East policy" and the Indo-Pacific concept; Australia and New Zealand in Asia Pacific; competing military/technological strategies; US strategic concept; Chinese Approach; China Maritime development in Pacific; US policies; technological initiatives; Russian policies concerning the security in the Asia Pacific; the defense cooperation between Russia and China and between Russia and other regional players

Assessment Elements

Policy Brief.
Экзамен проводится в письменной форме (policy brief), сдается преподавателям заранее. В день экзамена возможно обсуждение работ и проставление оценок. Экзамен проводится на платформе Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/188844889). К экзамену необходимо согласно расписанию. Компьютер студента должен удовлетворять требованиям взаимодействия с системой Zoom. Для участия в экзамене студент обязан включить камеру и микрофон, провести предварительную проверку видео и звука. Во время экзамена студентам запрещено пользоваться дополнительными материалами, выключать камеру и звук. Во время экзамена студентам разрешено опираться на текст сданной работы и пользоваться им при ответе.Кратковременным нарушением связи во время экзамена считается отсутствие в течение двух минут приостановке или потере изображения/звука. Долговременным нарушением связи во время экзамена считается более двух минут при потере изображения и звука. При долговременном нарушении связи студент не может продолжить участие в экзамене. Процедура пересдачи аналогична процедуре сдачи экзамена.
Class attendence

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (4 module)
0.3 * Class attendence + 0.7 * Policy Brief.

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Carter, A. (2016). The Rebalance and Asia-Pacific Security. Foreign Affairs, 95(6), 65. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=f5h&AN=118723075
Taylor, B., & Tow, W. (2015). Challenges to Building an Effective Asia-Pacific Security Architecture. Australia, Australia/Oceania: Columbia University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.63CF304B
Международная безопасность : учеб. пособие для вузов, Кулагин, В. М., 2007
Национальная и международная безопасность : концептуальные основы: учеб. пособие для вузов, Кортунов, С. В., 2007

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Evgeny A. Kanaev, & Anastasia S. Pyatachkova. (2015). Russia and Asia-Pacific Security: The Maritime Dimension. HSE Working Papers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.p.hig.wpaper.17.ir.2015
Shivshankar Menon. (2017). Some Thoughts on India, China and Asia-Pacific Regional Security. China Report, (2), 188. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.sae.chnrpt.v53y2017i2p188.213
Zhaoxi, Z. (2016). 突破困境：“一带一路”视域下的亚太安全结构改良 / Seeking A Breakthrough: The Improvement of The Asia-Pacific Security Structure From the Perspective of “One Belt One Road” Initiative. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.70E2AD36

Course Syllabus