UCL - Geopolitical and strategical issues of Korea Peninsula and North-East Asia

[SPRI2620]

[15h] 2 credits

Teacher(s):

Language: English

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

Northeast Asia is one of the most important regions in the world. Northeast Asia contains the most rapidly growing economies in the world, the second largest economy of Japan, an emerging power of China, and many actual and potential points of conflict such as Korean Peninsula, all of which could pose serious chal-lenges to global security in the 21st century. Northeast Asia stands out not only because of the phenome-nally rapid economic development experienced by nations in that region like Japan, South Korea, and China, but also because of its growing importance in military and strategic terms.
The fundamental goal of the course is to help students lay their intellectual foundations for understanding of geopolitical, and security aspects of this increasingly important region.

Main themes

To achieve the above-mentioned fundamental goal, this class will; (1) introduce major analytical approaches to the study of international relations in Northeast Asia; (2) survey the historical backgrounds of geopolitical and strategic issues in Northeast Asia; (3) examine the organization, operation, and interaction of major security institutions and alliance; (4) identify and discuss the most dynamic issues in the current geopolitical and strate-gic issues in Northeast Asia; (5) to explore the collective impact of Northeast Asia on the global security

Content and teaching methods

Ex cathedra reaching with participation of students.
1. Introduction to the Course and its Requirements
2: Northeast Asia and Geopolitical Significance
3: Northeast Asia and Strategic Dimension
4: Modernization and Colonialism in Northeast Asia
5: Between the Two World Wars
6: Northeast Asia in the Cold War Era
7: Northeast Asia after the Cold War Era
8: Northeast Asia in 21st Century
9: American Presence in Northeast Asia
10: ARF, APEC, and CSCA?
11: Case Study I: Korean Peninsula
12: Case Study II: Taiwan Straits
13: Case Study III: Japanese Roll back of Military State
14: Case Study IV: Chinese Economy and Security Concerns
15: Conclusion: Northeast Asia at the Crossroads

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation
Participation (10%). All students are required to attend every scheduled class. "Prepara-tion" entails that students are required for a close reading of all the assigned materials and the preparation of short oral presentations on the sets of readings for the topics under study. "Participation" means that each of students should participate actively in class discussions based on careful preparation.

Exams (60%). A take-home essay exam with oral test constitutes 60% of students' final grade.

Research Paper (30%). All students are also required to write an analytical paper on the course theme, which accounts for 30% of their final grade.