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International Relations of the Asia-Pacific: Between Theory and Practice (STG-MA-ECR-IAP)

STG-MA-ECR-IAP

Description

At the beginning of the 21st Century, a rapidly evolving East Asia is caught at the crossroads between intra-regional rivalry and cooperation. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in 2021 almost all East Asian states have deepened financial interdependence and registered the highest rates of intra-regional trade ever. Moreover, they had just signed a mega-regional Free Trade Agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, that promised to brave the storms of deglobalization. At the very same time, the region is being rocked by intense US-China rivalry, an arms race among the major regional players, economic protectionism and economic decoupling, and a deepening ideological divide. If we consider also the hot territorial and maritime disputes, the likelihood of conflict has actually heightened.

This course explores the complex international relations of the Asia-Pacific, with particular reference to Northeast Asia: Japan, China, Taiwan, the two Koreas, and the United States, which plays a central role. The lectures will explore the hot economics, cold politics and dissonant histories affecting intra-regional interaction, with a particular focus on the statecraft required to brave these stormy seas. Firstly, it will highlight the historical legacies of the Cold-War in the intra-regional political landscape. Secondly, it will adopt social science approaches, specifically International Relations (IR) theory and Foreign Policy Analysis, to investigate the principal mechanisms behind the statecraft of intra-regional interactions. Lastly, the module will explore the implications for Europe and how can the European Union and its member states constructively engage with the region.

This course will:

1. Provide students with detailed knowledge of controversies surrounding East Asian security and Sino-Japan-US relations;
2. Discuss key academic approaches to concepts, theories and methods for the analysis of the international relations of the Asia-Pacific, with an emphasis on IR theory and Foreign Policy Analysis.
3. Examine the composite nature of statecraft: from the centralization of power around heads of governments to the use and abuse of economic levers for political purposes, to the growing engagement of governments with strategic communications, and the EU’s potential engagement in the region.
4. Improve students’ communication (oral and written), analytical, problem-solving and academic presentation skills to a level commensurate with progression to PhD work or an intellectually challenging professional career, through engagement with selected readings in whole-class discussion, collaborative group tasks, writing assignments and exams.
5. Improve students' ability to tackle real-world problems not only from an academic perspective, but also through empirics and a policy-centred approach that takes into consideration recent news and avoids the pitfalls of scholasticism.

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