The course provides a cross-regional context for understanding  the East Asian region since the post-WWII settlement.

The aim is to understand the historical trajectories that shaped the region and its constituent parts, China (Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau), Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Japan and Mongolia.  The lectures  address the legacy of regional divisions and conflicts during the Cold War, the Chinese transition economy, the emergence of the "post-Communist" world order, as well as dynamics promoting and/or counteracting regional integration.  We will look at main developments, factors and players from synthesizing, cross-boundary and cross-disciplinary perspectives. By completion of the course. students should have acquired skills in analyzing, synthesizing and debating specific events and phenomena in the context of cross-cutting trends in East Asia.


This course provides an overview on how to do social scientific research by using examples of East Asia. The course aims to provide students in East Asian Studies with relevant guidance to design their own research for their advanced BA- and MA-thesis. The course consists of three parts:

1) What is social scientific research;

2) how to design social scientific research (using qualitative methods); and

3) how to conduct social scientific research using China, Japan or South Korea as cases of social scientific research.


Hee Kyoung Chang (heekyoung.chang@uni-due.de/ LE 610)

10:15-12:35 Thursday

SG / SG 111

 

 

Course Description

 

This course addresses the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the Korean peninsula from the international relations perspective. The aim of the course is that the students while focusing on the Korean peninsula develop an academic understanding of the various ongoing conflicts in East Asia (i.e. “New Cold War”) between the USA, China, Japan, Russia and North and South Korea. At the beginning of the seminar, we will make ourselves acquainted with conceptual approaches to international relations in East Asia. This is followed by a set of sessions in which we examine historical developments around the Korean peninsula starting from the 19th century working our way up to the division of the Korean peninsula (1945-48) and the Korean War (1950-53). Against this backdrop, we spend the remainder of the semester with studying contemporary developments regarding international relations and conflicts and cooperation between the two Koreas, the USA, Japan, China, and Russia. Meanwhile, a central focus is put on issues related to the difficulties and possibilities of peace on the Korean peninsula and East Asia.

 

Grading

Common: 2 times summary of the required reading materials

Master’s degree: research paper based on secondary literature focused on 1 topic in 5,000 words

Bachelor's degree: 2-3 Essay writing concerning the questions that I will suggest.