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Regular version of the site
Bachelor 2024/2025

Southeast Asia in Contemporary System of International Relations

Area of studies: Foreign Regional Studies
When: 2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Language: English
ECTS credits: 4

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course provides a general introduction of the contemporary international relations in Southeast Asia with an emphasis upon political-security and economic regionalism. It examines the key theoretical perspectives on international relations and regionalism in Southeast Asia, provides a general understanding of international actors and their role in the region, introduces the evolution of ASEAN, its mechanisms, values, principles, decision-making process and the conceptualization of such phenomenon as “ASEAN-centrality”. Emphasis is also placed on security challenges that Southeast Asian nations face today, as well as in non-traditional area. The course provides an introduction of ASEAN Communities goals and development prospects. Discussions on Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions and the emergence of minilateral formats such as QUAD and AKUS are also carefully examined. The course explores Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership and Russia’s foreign policy towards individual ASEAN-member state. The course stimulates the students’ conceptual thinking and develops a comprehensive understanding of contemporary international relations in Southeast Asia. Pre-requisites:Introduction to International RelationsIntroduction to Political ScienceModern History of Southeast AsiaEconomic & Political Geography of Southeast Asia
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Students gain a working knowledge of the contemporary trends shaping the current evolution of Southeast Asia.
  • Students learn to think critically and comparatively about regional issues in Southeast Asia.
  • Students are able to use their knowledge and critical thinking abilities to analytically consider research articles, published works, and scholarly monographs on topics related to contemporary international relations in Southeast Asian.
  • Students acquire a perspective on ASEAN development and its key principles and values.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • To be familiar with the key events that have shaped contemporary international relations in Southeast Asia, as well as modern strategies, policies, and priorities of key states in the region;
  • To understand decision-making process in ASEAN, its external affairs and core principles;
  • To understand the main concepts and theoretical approaches, and how they can be applied to the study of ASEAN and international relations in Southeast Asia;
  • To be able to analyze the politics, diplomacy, economy and social development of ASEAN member states and key regional actors.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Lecture 1. Course introduction. Southeast Asia in the study of international relations. Seminar 1. Working in groups.
  • Lecture 2. International Actors in Southeast Asia. Seminar 2. Working in groups.
  • Lecture 3. Regionalism and Multilateralism in Southeast Asia: ASEAN Case. Seminar 3. Working in groups.
  • Lecture 4. Southeast Asia: Traditional and Non-traditional Security Challenges . Seminar 4. Working in groups.
  • Lecture 5. Understanding and Future Prospects of ASEAN-Centrality. Mid-term exam. Multiple choice & short answer tests.
  • Lecture 6. ASEAN External Affairs: Dialogue Partners and International Organizations.
  • Lecture 7. ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership and Russia’s Foreign Policy in Southeast Asia
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Seminars
  • non-blocking Final Exam
    The final exam consists of an oral answer to two questions by the examiner. Students must remove any unauthorised material from the desk at the classroom in which they will be undertaking their examination, including books, coats, mobile phones, smartwatches, computers, electronic devices or laptops that are not connected with the examination. Any written, printed or digital materials shall be considered to be unauthorised materials. Students may take notes during preparation for the answer. Each student has 10 min to prepare for the answer. Students also have the right to decide from which question they wish to start answering. The absence from exam without valid reasons will count as one of your two permitted examination attempts to pass.
  • non-blocking Class Participation
  • non-blocking Attendance
  • non-blocking Midterm Exam
    Short answer assessments requires student to write brief responses to questions in his own words, or to pick the right answer in a multiple choice test. Short answer questions may be about a topic or they may be about a case study. The test has 25 questions.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2024/2025 2nd module
    0.05 * Seminars + 0.1 * Attendance + 0.25 * Class Participation + 0.35 * Final Exam + 0.25 * Midterm Exam
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Acharya, A., & Buzan, B. (2007). Why is there no non-Western international relations theory? An introduction. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.712B98E3
  • Weatherbee, D. E. (2014). International Relations in Southeast Asia : The Struggle for Autonomy (Vol. Third edition). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=920008

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Mahbubani, K., & Sng, J. (2017). The ASEAN Miracle. University of Chicago Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.b.ucp.bkecon.9789814722490

Authors

  • BOLSHOVA EKATERINA VLADIMIROVNA
  • Базарова Евгения Сергеевна