40014 - International Relations of East Asia

Learning outcomes

This course is an overview of international relations of the East Asian region, which aims at broadly exploring the economic and political issues surrounding the Asia-Pacific rim. At the end of the course students will be able to examine a set of topics related to historical and contemporary patterns of state relations in East Asia, US security alliance in East Asia and the new Asian Pivot, the rise of China, nuclear crisis in the Korean Peninsula, territorial disputes, regional multilateral institutions, East Asian development models and economic integration, environmental challenges, energy security, and other related issues.

Course contents

Northeast Asia, a geographic area including the People's Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of China and the two Koreas, represents one of the most important regions in the world in terms of population, natural resources, trading and investment opportunities. Despite the outstanding economic performances, this region still remains unstable from the political point of view: the division of the Korean peninsula, territorial disputes between Japan and Russia and between Japan and China, complicated relations between Taipei and Beijing, without mentioning the debated role played by the United States in the region. The main task of this course is to shed light on the "nature" and problems in the relations among the main "regional" actors (including the United States), by examining the changes which have taken place, especially in the last decade. 

Readings/Bibliography

Required Readings:

Textbook:

M. Yahuda, The International Politics of Asia-Pacific, Routledge, 2011 (as a general introduction to the history of international relations of Asia)

The Korean Peninsula:

D. Kang and V. Cha, “The Debate over North Korea,” in Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 119, No. 2, 2004

D. Kang, "The North Korean Issue, Park Geun-hye's Presidency, and the Possibility of Trust-building on the Korean Peninsula, in International Journal of Korean Unification Studies, Vol. 22, No.1, 2013

C. Armstrong, "Inter-Korean Relations in Historical Perspective," in International Journal of Unification Studies, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2005

PRC: The New Global and Regional Balance:

Dimensions of China's Rise and Principles of Foreign Policy

NC. Liao, “The Sources of China's Assertiveness: The System, Domestic Politics or Leadership Preferences?,” in International Affairs, Vol. 92, No. 4, 2016

A. Nathan and A. Scobell, "What Drives Chinese Foreign Policy" and "Who Runs Chinese Foreign Policy", Part 1 of the book China's Search for Security by the same authors, New York: Columbia University Press, 2012

Wang Jisi, “China's Search for a Grand Strategy: a Rising Great Power Finds its Way”, in Foreign Affairs, Vol. 90, No. 2, 2011

S. Zhao, "Chinese Foreign Policy as a Rising Power to Find Its Rightful Place", in Perceptions, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2013

J. Zhang, “China’s New Foreign Policy under Xi Jinping: Towards ‘Peaceful Rise 2.0’?,” in Global Change, Peace & Security, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2015

P. Ferdinand, “Westward ho-the China Dream and ‘One Belt, One Road’: Chinese Foreign Policy under Xi Jinping,” in International Affairs, Vol. 92, No. 4, 2016

Jae Ho Chung and Myung-hae Choi, "Uncertain Allies or Uncomfortable Neighbors? Making Sense of China-NK Relations 1949-2010", in Pacific Review, Vol. 26, No. 3, 2013

Confronting China's Rise: US Perspectives

H. Clinton, “America's Pacific Century”, Foreign Policy, No. 189, 2011

R. Ross, “The Problem With The Pivot: Obama's New Asia Policy Is Unnecessary and Counterproductive”, in Foreign Affairs, Vol. 91, No. 6, 2011

Suisheng Zhao, "A New Model of Big Power Relations? China-US Strategic Rivalry and Balance of Power in the Asia-Pacific", in Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 24, No. 93, 2015

The Sino-Taiwanese Relations

S. Kastner, “Is the Taiwan Strait Still a Flash Point?: Rethinking the Prospects for Armed Conflict between China and Taiwan”, inInternational Security, Vol. 40, No. 3, Winter 2015/2016

S. Rigger, “The End of a Golden Age in China-Taiwan Relations”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, June 2016

China and Africa

I. Taylor, "A challenge to the global liberal order? the growing Chinese relationship with Africa", in S. Breslin (ed.), Handbook of China's International Relations, London: Routledge, 2010

S. Hess and R. Aidoo, "Beyond the Rhetoric: Noninterference in China's African Policy", African & Asian Studies, Vol. 9, 2010

S. Adem, "The Paradox of China's Policy in Africa", African & Asian Studies, Vol. 9, 2010

China's Policies of Continental and Maritime Southeast Asian States

M. Valencia, "The East China Sea Disputes: History, Status, and Ways Forward", in Asian Perspective, Vol. 38, No. 2, 2014

M. Taylor Fravel, “China's Strategy in the South China Sea”, in Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of Int.l and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 33, No. 3, 2011

A. Ba, "Staking Claims and Making Waves in the South China Sea: How Troubled Are the Waters?", in Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of Int.l and Strategic Affairs, Vol. 33, No. 3, 2011

Y. Zhang, “China and its Neighbourhood: Transformation, Challenges and Grand Strategy” in International Affairs, Vol. 92, No. 4, 2016

M. Yahuda, “China’s Recent Relations with Maritime Neighbours”, in The International Spectator, Vol. 47, No. 2, 2012

China's New Frontiers and Energy Diplomacy

J. Dosch and D.S.G. Goodman, "China and Latin America: Complementarity, Competition, and Globalisation", in Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2012

A. Fiori, "A Thirsty Dragon. China’s Oil Diplomacy", in A. Fiori, M. Dian, The Chinese Challenge to the Western Order, Trento: FBK Press, 2014

D. Zha and M. Meidan, “China and the Middle East in a New Energy Landscape”, Chatham House Research Paper, October 2015

Japan's foreign policy:

C.W. Hughes, "Japan's foreign security relations and policies", in S. Pekkanen, J. Ravenhill, R. Foot (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014

A. Sakaki, "Japan's Security Policy: A Shift in Direction Under Abe?", SWP Research Paper, 2015

J.W. Hornung, "Japan's Growing Hard Hedge Against China", in Asian Security, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2014

H. Nakanishi, "Reorienting Japan? Security Transformation under the Second Abe Cabinet" in Asiaa Perspective, Vol. 39, 2015

Teaching methods

Lectures and plenary discussions

Assessment methods

Final oral exam; however, students who attend the course will be also asked to write a policy paper on a specific topic (around 1.000 words). Active participation, careful and continuous reading of documents, and an active involvement in class activities are very welcome.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Fiori