Bachelor 2021/2022

Political Systems and Sociopolitical Trends in the Countries of Specialization

Type: Elective course (Asian and African Studies)

Area of studies: Asian and African Studies

Delivered by: Institute of Asian and African Studies

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 5 year, 2 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Online hours: 17

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Mir Ali Askerov, Svetlana Krivokhizh

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 28

Course Syllabus

Abstract

First, the course will focus on the formation and evolution of the political regimes in these countries, their political actors: major state structures, as well as political parties and civil society. Students will learn about political culture and discuss role of ideology. Moreover, the course will introduce students to forms and drivers of social movements and protests in the regions. The final part of the course looks into several policy areas – ethnic, socio-economic and educations policies. On the seminars students will discuss relevant literature on the topic and take short tests, based on the discussion. The exam will be in a form of test with 20 questions of different type (open, multiple choice etc.).

Learning Objectives

• The course aims at familiarizing students with the specifics of the political development of the East Asian, Southeast Asian states and countries of the Middle East.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Able to take into account the cultural specificity characteristic of the countries of the studied region in their practical and research activities.
• Able to work with information: find, evaluate, systematize and use information necessary for solving scientific and professional problems from various sources, (on the basis of a systematic approach).
• Able to communicate in English on professional topics, participate in in-class discussions.
• Able to prepare explanatory notes in their professional field.
• Able to understand and analyze socially and personally significant problems and processes occurring in society.
• Able to use the conceptual apparatus of scientific research, critically analyze the information.

Course Contents

• Online course
• Lecture 1. Introduction. Political regimes and economic development in East and Southeast Asia
• Lecture 2. Major State Political Institutions and the Role of CCP in PRC
• Lecture 3. Political culture of East Asian States
• Lecture 4. Civil Society in East Asia
• Lecture 5. Welfare state in East Asia
• Lecture 6. Education policies in East Asia

Assessment Elements

• In-class participation
• Test on literature
  5-10 questions of different format, 10 minutes.
• Exam
  The final exam will take the form of test (20 questions of different types, 30 minutes), based on the materials of the lectures, seminars, literature and online-course.
• Online course
  This course is blended and students have to study the following online course: Constitutional struggle in the Muslim World. URL: https://www.coursera.org/learn/muslim-world. The course is conducted by The University of Copenhagen on Coursera online platform.
• Group presentation
  You will select an country of your choice: China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam; Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan. Groups will be formed based on individual country preference and write a 3-4 page singled spaced report (15 minutes for presentation). Each group will write and present a country report that includes a BRIEF overview of political institutions, current political leader, recent or upcoming election, and other topics related to our course, such as women’s representation and social movements.

Interim Assessment

• 2021/2022 2nd module
  0.3 * Exam + 0.1 * Online course + 0.2 * Test on literature + 0.2 * In-class participation + 0.2 * Group presentation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Charlton, S. E. M. (2015). Comparing Asian Politics : India, China, and Japan (Vol. Fourth edition). Boulder, CO: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=983968
• Marlies Glasius, David Lewis, & Hakan Seckinelgin. (2004). Exploring Civil Society : Political and Cultural Contexts. Routledge.
• Roger Goodman, Huck-Ju Kwon, & Gordon White. (1998). The East Asian Welfare Model : Welfare Orientalism and the State. Routledge.
• The Palgrave Handbook of Political Elites edited by Heinrich Best, John Higley. (2018).

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• HU, A. (2016). Half the Sky, But Not Yet Equal China’s Feminist Movement. Harvard International Review, 37(3), 15–18.
• King, G., Pan, J. J., & Roberts, M. E. (2013). How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003055413000014
• Krauss, E. S. . (DE-588)171147138, (DE-627)061318272, (DE-576)16182062X, aut. (2010). The rise and fall of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party Ellis S. Krauss and Robert J. Pekkanen.
• Lee, A., & Chin, M. (2007). The Women’s Movement in South Korea. Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell), 88(5), 1205–1226. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2007.00499.x
• Lombardi, C. B. . (DE-588)131507486, (DE-627)509845088, (DE-576)298552418, aut. (2006). Do constitutions requiring adherence to shari’a threaten human rights? How Egypt’s constitutional court reconciles Islamic law with the liberal rule of law Clark B. Lombardi and Nathan J. Brown.
• Reilly, B. (2007). Democratization and Electoral Reform in the Asia-Pacific: Is There an Asian Model of Democracy? Conference Papers —— American Political Science Association, 1–33.
• Sharia incorporated a comparative overview of the legal systems of twelve Muslim countries in past and present ed. Jan Michiel Otto. (2010).
• Wael B. Hallaq. (2012). The Impossible State : Islam, Politics, and Modernity’s Moral Predicament. Columbia University Press.

Authors

• KRIVOKHIZH SVETLANA VALENTINOVNA