Spring 2007

SOC 321K • Sociology of East Asia

Course Description

This course is designed to provide and overview of contemporary East Asian societies, primarily Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea. While this course starts by providing a general picture on industrialization and economic transformations in East Asia, a large part of it is devoted to social institutional and their consequences within each country. We will also examine social dynamics across East Asian countries, using a comparative perspective. A major focus of this course is how the institutional context shapes individuals life chances in this region. The topics to be discussed in this course include economic organizations and industrial policies, social mobility, educational systems, labor market dynamics, and gender inequality.

Grading Policy

40% midterm 40% final 12% reading reviews 8% class participation

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