Spring 2005

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

Course Description

Contains a substantial writing component and fulfills part of the basic education requirement in writing. Course number may be repeated for credit when topics vary.

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. There is no region-wide organization, though ASEAN, ARF, "ASEAN plus Three", 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 world's 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, the U. S. has taken the lead in the campaign against international terrorism in Asia. The anti-terror war has been supported by most Asian nations and the war has changed the geopolitical map of Asia. We will explore China's foreign policy reasoning in light of these regional characteristics, and consider implications for US-China relations.

Grading Policy

Three 5-6 page essays One 12-15 page research paper written in stages.

Texts

"The Security Environment in the Asia-Pacific" Tien and Cheng, Sharpe, 2000 "Asian Aftershocks" Ellings and Friedberg, NBR, 2003

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