Spring 2008

GOV 365L • China and the New Asian Region-W

Course Description

The new Asian region has five parts: East Asia (China and Northeast Asia), Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Russia. While the U.S. sustains a favored military presence and is the strongest force, it is no longer a hegemonic power in the region. There is no region-wide organization, though ASEAN, ARF, "ASEAN plus Three", ASEAN plus Six, SAARC, and SCO are growing in importance. The home of all the developing world's tigers continues to advance economically, if unevenly. It holds the worlds largest democracy (India) and largest one-party authoritarian regime (China). It is riddled with ethnic and territorial conflicts. It experienced colonialism first-hand through the mid-20th century. And it remains a key arena of global politics. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. has taken the lead in the campaign against international terrorism in Asia. The anti-terror war and Asian regionalism has changed the geopolitical map in Asia. We will explore Chinas rise and its foreign policy reasoning in light of the regional characteristics, and consider implications for US-China relations.

Grading Policy

Three take-home essays (5-6 pages), 60% 12-page term paper, 30% Class participation, 10%

Texts

Required: Bergsten et. al., China: The Balance Sheet, Public Affairs, 2006.( CBS) Tellis & Wills (ed.), Strategic Asia 2006-07: Trade, Interdependence, and Security, NBR, 2006. (SA) Shambaugh, (ed.), Power Shift: China and Asia's New Dynamics, University of California Press, 2006. References: Johnston & Ross, Engaging China: the Management of an Emerging Power, Routledge, 1999. (EC) National Security Strategy, White House, 2006.

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