2022/2023

International Relations in East Asia

Type: Mago-Lego

Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

When: 2 module

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Sergei Sevastianov

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 20

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course is meant for those who are interested in learning more about major trends and developments shaping East Asia’s international relations. East Asia is understood here as an international-political region comprising Northeast Asia (NEA), Southeast Asia (SEA) and the US as an external actor. The key emphasis in the course is made on NEA, including: China, Japan, Korea (North and South), Russia and Mongolia. The standing of East Asia in the world order, which is already high, continues to rise. There are now hardly any doubts that this regional system will shape the global international order in the 21st century, though there is still a substantial amount of conflict and tension in the region. While it is lacking a solid system of cooperation to ensure mutual security, there exist systemic forces that generally contribute to peace and stable economic development in the region. Therefore, the course will examine East Asian international politics as a complex interplay, or dialectics, of rivalry and cooperation between key actors in economics and security.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the theoretical concept of East Asia as an international-political region and examine its main features.
• Examine the strategies and policies of the leading actors in Northeast Asia – China, Japan, Russia, Republic of Korea, DPRK, and the US as an external actor.
• Research key features of China’s rivalry with the US (more globally) and with Japan in East Asia.
• Explore the traditional security threats in the region, especially the role of nuclear weapons in NEA.
• Analyze the evolving multilateral institutional structure of East Asia with a special focus on ASEAN as a model for Asian regionalism
• Investigate Russia’s so-called “Pivot” to Asia, especially its manifestation in a strategy for advanced development of the Russian Far East
• Outline possible future scenarios for East Asia’s strategic landscape

Expected Learning Outcomes

• acquires modern methodology to clarify interests of main regional actors to be able to foresee future development of the international situation in East Asia and to formulate recommendations to the leadership of Russia and RFE on their international policy in the region
• characterizes main traditional and non-traditional threats in the region, and major economic trends defining international order in East Asia
• finds, analyzes and comprehends new information, to propose theoretical concepts and models explaining practical behavior and policies of key states in the region, taking into account growing competition of China with USA and Japan
• knows main characteristics of the East Asia international relations, modern strategies, policies, and priorities of key states in the region

Course Contents

• Course Overview. The History of East Asia Region, its Identity and Theoretical Conceptualization. South East Asia and ASEAN Special Role in EA Regionalism
• East Asian Regional Security Order and its Сhanges. Economic “Regionalization” Driven by Corporate Activities. Financial and Economic/Trade Integration as Priority Components of the East Asian Regionalism
• The Economy-Security Nexus in NEA. The Key Role of the “Big Three” (China, Japan, RK). Rising China and Power Transition in East Asia. Exacerbation of the Taiwan problem
• Japan as a Status Quo (Re-emerging?) Power. RK as an Important Middle Power. Difficulties on the Way to Rapprochement between RK and Japan. The Divided Korean Peninsula: Old Problems and New Approaches
• Russia’s “Pivot” to Asia and its Strategy for Advanced Development of the Far East. Russia’s Role as a Regional Player in East Asia. Growing traditional and non-traditional threats for EA region

Assessment Elements

• Participation in class discussion
  For each lecture and seminar topic, students are required to read at least two articles/chapters/books from the list of the recommended literature. Apart from the recommended titles, they are encouraged to read other materials relevant to the course’s general theme and topics. Substantial part of the relevant materials can be found in the resources’ list. Students are required actively participate in discussions during seminars.
• Essay
  Students are required to do one written assignment. They must write an analytical essay on any subject that is relevant to the general theme of the course or the course’s topics. Students should propose the essay’s subject/title on their own (some variations of possible themes for essays are listed below), subject to approval by the instructor, who may suggest necessary changes. The essay must be between 12 and 15 pages long.

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 2nd module
  0.5 * Participation in class discussion + 0.5 * Essay

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Beeson, M. (2009). Institutions of the Asia-Pacific : ASEAN, APEC and Beyond. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=236553
• Kang, D. C. (2010). East Asia Before the West : Five Centuries of Trade and Tribute. New York: Columbia University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=499519
• Michael Yahuda. (2019). The International Politics of the Asia-Pacific : Fourth and Revised Edition: Vol. Fourth and revised edition. Routledge.
• Nederveen Pieterse, J., Abdul Rahman Embong, & Tham, S. Y. (2017). Changing Constellations of Southeast Asia : From Northeast Asia to China. Routledge.
• Regional integration in East Asia theoretical and historical perspectives ed. by Satoshi Amako . (2013).
• Robert S. Ross, & Øystein Tunsjø. (2017). Strategic Adjustment and the Rise of China : Power and Politics in East Asia. Cornell University Press.
• Westad, O. A. (2019). The Sources of Chinese Conduct: Are Washington and Beijing Fighting a New Cold War? Foreign Affairs, 98(5), 86.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Tsygankov, A. P. (2018). Routledge Handbook of Russian Foreign Policy. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1735577
• Wang Yi. (2018). China’s Diplomacy in the New Era: Opening Up New Horizons with a New Outlook. China International Studies, 68, 5–25.

Authors

• SEVASTYANOV SERGEY VITALEVICH