03583 - The History of Eastern Asia

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have acquired a general knowledge of the political, economic and social history of modern and contemporary East Asia. A particular focus will be reserved to the evolution of China, Japan and Korea. In addition, students will have acquired a good critical and comparative reading of state-building processes and intercultural and geopolitical dynamics. He/she will have learnt a specific and sophisticated language and will be able to express him/herself using complex concepts on the basis of adequate sources and correctly set periodisations.

Course contents

The course aims to introduce the main events that characterised the history of East Asia in the 20th century. Starting from economic and institutional modernisation and its impact on the rapid evolution of societies and cultures in the area, the course will present the evolution of political systems and various visions of development related to national, ideological and cultural identity in China, Japan and Korea.
Adopting a comparative approach, the course will also develop some transversal themes, which are fundamental keys to understanding the contemporary societies and cultures of the three countries. Particular in-depth studies will be devoted to the following topics: the study of East Asian history from a gender perspective; the memory of the Pacific War and its reworking in China, Japan and Korea.
At the end of the course, students will acquire a general knowledge of the political, socio-economic and cultural evolution of the area in modern and contemporary times and will learn to use tools and methodologies for the critical study of history.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Selected chapters from the following texts (more information will be provided during the course):

 

on Japan

Caroli, Rosa e Gatti, Francesco (2017). Storia del Giappone, Bari-Roma: Laterza.

Chapters V-VI-VII-VIII-IX-X-XI (pp. 123 – 268)

 

 

on China

Samarani, Guido (2017). La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero ad oggi, Torino: Einaudi.

Chapters III-IV-V (pp. 66 – 153); IX (pp. 230 – 241); XVI-XVII (pp. 375 – 398)

 

 

on Korea

Seth, Michael J. (2019). Trad. it. Storia della Corea moderna e contemporanea, Einaudi (2023).

Chapters IV-V-VI (pp. 178 – 322)

 

 

2. One of your choice from the various research articles related to specific sections of the course (see List on Unibo platform Virtuale)

 

3. Additional resources:
- Lecture presentations projected in class published on the Virtual platform.
- The notes taken in class.
- The various in-depth bibliographical references relating to specific sections of the course published by the lecturer on the Virtual platform.

Teaching methods

The course will consist of lectures, in-depth readings and the projection of audiovisual material.
The lectures are intended to encourage and stimulate class discussion on the topics that will be covered from week to week. Students' active participation (asking questions and/or making articulate comments) is strongly encouraged.

Assessment methods

For those students interested in taking it, a mid-term test is planned. The test will consist of a group presentation. All information on the topics selected by the lecturer for in-class presentations, on the composition of the groups and on any other technical and organisational aspects will be shared with students during the third week of class (end of February) and published on Virtual.
The grade for the mid-term test will be assigned to each student on the basis of an evaluation of the group as a whole.
The assessment will take into account the arguments presented, the level of detail, the in-class presentation and the correct use of the sources and information on which the work is based. The specific assessment criteria are listed in the penultimate section.
The grade for the midterm examination will be averaged with the grade for the final oral examination, which will be scheduled on the regular appeal dates published from the end of March 2025.
Those who do not participate in the midterm will bring both the general part and the research article the oral examination directly.

Office hours

See the website of Valeria Zanier