Problems of Security in the Asia-Pacific

This course aims at providing students with basic knowledge of the security environment of Asia and the Pacific, including theoretical background, determinants of the problem: introduction to geography, demography, socio-cultural, economic and strategic situation of the region. The role of the PRC, Korean Peninsula, and the United States (selected subjects will be discussed during classes other based on readings).

1) Introduction: Geography and the geopolitics of the region

READINGS:

• D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014: CHAPTER 1: D. Shambaugh, International Relations in Asia: A Multidimensional Analysis.

• S. Pekkanen, J. Ravenhill, R. Foot (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia, Oxford University Press, New York 2014: CHAPTER 37: J. Lind, Geography and the Security Dilemma in Asia.

W. Tow (ed.), Security Politics in the Asia-Pacific: A Regional–Global Nexus?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2009: CHAPTER 2: B. Job, Grappling with an elusive concept.

2) Adaptation of basic IR theories in the Asia Pacific

READINGS:

• D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014: CHAPTER 3: A. Acharya, Thinking Theoretically about Asian IR

• M. Grabowski, T. Pugacewicz (eds.), Application of International Relations Theories in Asia and Africa, Peter Lang Verlag, Berlin 2019: CHAPTER 3: M. Grabowski, T. Pugacewicz, Ways of Application of Western IR Theories in Asia and Africa.

• M. Grabowski, T. Pugacewicz (eds.), Application of International Relations Theories in Asia and Africa, Peter Lang Verlag, Berlin 2019: CHAPTER 4: M. Grabowski, International Relations Theory Development in Asia

3) Role of history and politics in regional stability

READINGS:

• D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014: CHAPTER 2 S. Kim, The Evolving Asian System: Three Transformations

• X. Huang, J. Young, Politics in Pacific Asia: An Introduction, Palgrave 2017: CHAPTER 3: Types of States in Pacific Asia.

• W. Tow (ed.), Security Politics in the Asia-Pacific: A Regional–Global Nexus?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2009: CHAPTER 7: W. Case, Democracy and Security in East Asia.

4) Socio-cultural situation, religions and security risks of the region.

READINGS:

• J. Bertrand, A. Laliberte (eds.), Multination States in Asia: Accommodation or Resistance, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2010.

5) Student presentations – regional conflicts caused by religion/ethnic situation.

6) Rivalries and territorial disputes in the region:

READINGS:

• D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014: CHAPTER 15: R. Cossa, Security Dynamics in East Asia: Geopolitics vs. Regional Institutions.

• R. Ayson, Asia’s Security, Palgrave 2015: CHAPTER 6: Rivalry: Will Territorial Competition and Nationalism Ruin Asia’s Peace?

• S. Pekkanen, J. Ravenhill, R. Foot (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia, Oxford University Press, New York 2014: CHAPTER 27: M. Taylor Fravel: Territorial and Maritime Boundary Disputes in Asia

7) Military and resource security in the region:

READINGS:

• R. Ayson, Asia’s Security, Palgrave 2015: Chapter 5: Guns: Will Military Technology Lead to New Conflict in Asia?

• S. Pekkanen, J. Ravenhill, R. Foot (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia, Oxford University Press, New York 2014: CHAPTER 26: Jingdong Yuan: Nuclear Politics in Asia AND CHAPTER 28: Purnendra Jain: Energy Security in Asia

8) Chinese role in the regional security

READINGS:

• D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014: CHAPTER 6: Ph. Saunders: China’s Role in Asia: Attractive or Assertive?

• S. Pekkanen, J. Ravenhill, R. Foot (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia, Oxford University Press, New York 2014: CHAPTER 20: The Domestic Context of Chinese Foreign Security Policies;

9) Korean Peninsula and Regional Dynamics

READINGS:

• D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014: CHAPTER 12: S. Snyder, The Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asian Stability

• S. Pekkanen, J. Ravenhill, R. Foot (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia, Oxford University Press, New York 2014: CHAPTER 22: Strong, Prosperous, or Great? North Korean Foreign and Security Policies AND CHAPTER 23: South Korea’s Foreign Relations and Security Policies.

10) United States in the Asia-Pacific Region

READINGS:

• D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014: CHAPTER 4: The United States in Asia: Durable Leadership

• R. Sutter, The United States and Asia: Regional Dynamics and Twenty-First-Century Relations, Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham 2019: CHAPTER 4: Asia, Obama’s Rebalance, and the Ascendance of Donald Trump

Obligatory reading:

• Shambaugh D., Yahuda M. (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2014.

• Ayson R., Asia’s Security, Palgrave 2015.

• Tow W. (ed.), Security Politics in the Asia-Pacific: A Regional–Global Nexus?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2009 – selected chapters.

• Pekkanen S., Ravenhill J., Foot R. (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia, Oxford University Press, New York 2014 – selected chapters.

Recommended reading:

• Beeson M., Regionalism and Globalization in East Asia: Politics, Security, and Economic Development, Palgrave 2014.

• Borthwick M., Pacific Century: The Emergence of Modern Pacific Asia, Westview Press, Boulder 2014.

• Connors M., Davison R., Dosch J., The New Global Politics of the Asia-Pacific, Routledge, New York 2012.

• Sutter R., The United States in Asia: Regional Dynamics in the Twenty-First Century, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2019.

• Weatherbee D., International Relations in Southeast Asia: The Struggle for Autonomy, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2015.

• Ganguly S., Scobell A., Chinyong Liow J. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Asian Security Studies, Routledge, London-New York 2017.

Supplementary reading:

• Acharya A., Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order, Routledge, New York 2014.

• Beeson M., Institutions of the Asia-Pacific: ASEAN, APEC and Beyond, Routledge, London-New York 2009.

• Bertrand J., Laliberte A. eds., Multination States in Asia: Accomodation or Resistance, Cambridge University Press, New York 2010.

• Heilmann S., D. Schmidt, China’s Foreign Political and Economic Relations: An Unconventional Global Power, Rowman and Littlefield 2014.

• Han Sung-Joo, Koh Tommy, Mohan C. Raja, America‘s Role in Asia: Asian and American Views: Recommendations for U.S. Policy from Both Sides of the Pacific, Asia Foundation, San Francisco 2008.

• Ikenberry J., Mastanduno M. (eds.), International Relations Theory and the Asia-Pacific, Columbia University Press, New York 2003.

• Kim S., The International Relations in Northeast Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2004.

• Knight N., Heazle M., Understanding Australia’s Neighbours: An Introduction to East and Southeast Asia, Cambridge University Press, New York 2011.

• Krauss E., Pempel T. (eds.), Beyond Bilateralism: U.S.-Japan Relations in the New Asia-Pacific, Stanford University Press, Stanford 2004.

• Lampton D., Same Bed, Different Dreams: Managing U.S.-China Relations, 1989-2000, University of California Press, Berkeley 2001.

• Shambaugh D., China Goes Global: The Partial Power, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2013.

• SarDesai D., Southeast Asia: Past and Present, Westview Press 2013.

• Sutter R., Foreign Relations of the PRC; The Legacies and Constraints of China’s International Politics since 1949, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2013.

• Sutter R., The United States in Asia, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Lanham 2009.