San José State University
College of Social Sciences/Political Science Department
POLS/ASIA 145, Asian Politics, Spring 2016
Course and Contact Information
Instructor:
Karthika Sasikumar
Office Location:
Clark 451
Telephone:
(408) 9241361
Email:
karthika.sasikumar@sjsu.edu
Office Hours:
MW 10.30 to 11.30 AM and Th 12.30-1.30 PM
Class Days/Time:
MW 4:30 to 5:45 PM
Classroom:
Hugh Gillis 116
Course Description
This course is intended to give students the analytical tools to understand the unfolding events of Asian politics.
It is structured around the theme "The rise of Asia: causes and consequences." We first examine the Asian
economic 'miracle': what makes Asian growth miraculous, and what lessons can the rest of the world learn from
the experience? We then examine the implications of China's rise for international security and organizations.
Nuclear proliferation and terrorism in the region will be our third topic. We end the course by asking if Asia's
rise sustainable, with a look at energy, environment and human rights.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)
CLO1. Define key concepts and terms in the scholarly study of Asia, as well as critique and summarize key
texts
CLO2. Debate major social issues in a civil and collaborative manner
CLO3. Reflect on current events, apply Comparative Politics theories to them, and evaluate such theories
Required Texts/Readings
Textbook
There is no textbook for this course. All texts can be accessed using links on the Canvas site. It is the
responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if there are any hindrances to access.
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ASIAN POLITICS, ASIA/POLS 145, SPRING 2016
Course Requirements and Assignments
SJSU classes are designed such that in order to be successful, it is expected that students will spend a minimum
of forty-five hours for each unit of credit (normally three hours per unit per week), including preparing for class,
participating in course activities, completing assignments, and so on. More details about student workload can
be found in University Policy S12-3 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-3.pdf.
CLO
Assignment
Weight Due dates
In class quizzes
Number Points
each
3
10
1
Midterm exam
1
10
10
February 22, March 16, April
25
April 4
1 and
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
Final exam
Map quiz
Online debates
Class participation
Policy memo outline
Policy memo
1
1
2
20
5
7
1
1
3
13
20
5
14
5
3
13
May 19
April 4
TBA
various
April 27
May 17
30
Classroom Protocol
This is a seminar-style class, and your success in the course will depend to a great degree on your completing
the required readings before class. Please be prepared to be called upon by name in class. This class does not
allow for use of any electronic devices, including smartphones and laptops for note-taking, except in cases of
documented medical need. All quizzes and exams are closed-book.
University Policies
General Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities of the Student
As members of the academic community, students accept both the rights and responsibilities incumbent upon all
members of the institution. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with SJSU’s policies and
practices pertaining to the procedures to follow if and when questions or concerns about a class arises. See
University Policy S90–5 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S90-5.pdf. More detailed information on a variety
of related topics is available in the SJSU catalog, at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/catalog/rec12234.12506.html. In general, it is recommended that students begin by seeking clarification or discussing
concerns with their instructor. If such conversation is not possible, or if it does not serve to address the issue, it
is recommended that the student contact the Department Chair as a next step.
Dropping and Adding
Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drop, grade forgiveness, etc.
Refer to the current semester’s Catalog Policies section at http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html.
Add/drop deadlines can be found on the current academic year calendars document on the Academic Calendars
webpage at http://www.sjsu.edu/provost/services/academic_calendars/. The Late Drop Policy is available at
http://www.sjsu.edu/aars/policies/latedrops/policy/. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and
penalties for dropping classes.
Information about the latest changes and news is available at the Advising Hub at http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/.
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ASIAN POLITICS, ASIA/POLS 145, SPRING 2016
Consent for Recording of Class and Public Sharing of Instructor Material
University Policy S12-7, http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf, requires students to obtain instructor’s
permission to record the course and the following items to be included in the syllabus:


“Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording
him/her. You must obtain the instructor’s permission to make audio or video recordings in this class.
Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings
are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or
distribute the material.”
o It is suggested that the greensheet include the instructor’s process for granting permission,
whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.
o In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of
those students or guests should be obtained as well.
“Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be
shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated
material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor
consent.”
Academic integrity
Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The
University Academic Integrity Policy S07-2 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S07-2.pdf requires you to be
honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of
Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available
at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.
Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible,
or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 at
http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf requires that students with disabilities
requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at
http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of their disability.
Citations for POLS 145 Spring 2016
Abbas, H. (2005). Pakistan's drift into extremism : Allah, the army, and America's war on terror. Armonk, N.Y.:
M.E. Sharpe.
Alagappa, M. (1998). International Politics in Asia--The Historical Context. In M. Alagappa (Ed.), Asian
Security Practice: Material and Ideational Influences (pp. 65-114). Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Campbell, K. M., & Andrews, B. (2013). Explaining the U.S. ‘Pivot’ to Asia. Retrieved from London:
https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/papers/view/194019
Cruz de Castro, R. (2009). The Influence of Transnational Jihadist Ideology on Islamic Extremist Groups in the
Philippines: The Cases of the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Rajah Solaiman Movement. In S. Helfstein (Ed.),
Radical Islamic Ideology in Southeast Asia (pp. 54-73). West Point, NY: Combating Terrorism Center.
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ASIAN POLITICS, ASIA/POLS 145, SPRING 2016
Dearn, M. (2010, May 6). The persistence of military domination in Myanmar. Retrieved from http://www.eir.info/2010/05/06/the-persistence-of-military-domination-in-myanmar/
Economy, E. (2013). The Environment. In C. Ogden (Ed.), Handbook of China's Governance and Domestic
Politics (pp. 199-209). Abingdon, Oxon ; New York: Routledge.
Economy, E., Huxley, T., Fullilove, M., Smith, S. A., & Xu, B. (2013, December 20). What Happened to the
Asia Pivot in 2013? Retrieved from http://www.cfr.org/china/happened-asia-pivot-2013/p32108
Fair, C. C., & Ganguly, S. (2015). An Unworthy Ally. Foreign Affairs, 94(5), 160-170.
Healey, J. (Ed.) (2013). Australia's engagement with Asia. Thirroul, Australia: The Spinney Press.
Herring, R. J. (2001). Making Ethnic Conflict: The Civil War in Sri Lanka. In M. J. Esman & R. J. Herring
(Eds.), Carrots, Sticks and Ethnic Conflict: Rethinking Development Assistance (pp. 140-174). Ann Arbor:
University of Michigan Press.
Hirsch, E. (2015). “It won't be any good to have democracy if we don’t have a country”: Climate change and
the politics of synecdoche in the Maldives. Global Environmental Change, 35, 190-198.
International Crisis Group. (2015). Syria Calling: Radicalisation in Central Asia (72). Retrieved from
Bishkek/Brussels: http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/central-asia/b072-syria-calling-radicalisation-incentral-asia.aspx
Kaplan, R. (2014). Asia's cauldron: the South China Sea and the end of a stable Pacific New York: Random
House.
Klingner-Vidra, R. (2015). Diffusion and adaptation: why even the Silicon Valley model is adapted as it
diffuses to East Asia. Pacific Review, 1-25.
Lardy, N. R. (2012). Sustaining China's economic growth after the global financial crisis. Washington DC:
Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Lizhi, F. (1991). Democracy, Reform and Modernization. In J. Williams (Ed.), Bringing Down the Great Wall:
Writings on Science, Culture and Democracy in China (pp. 160-163). New York: Knopf.
Mahbubani, K. (2008). The new Asian hemisphere: the irresistible shift of global power to the East. New York:
PublicAffairs.
Nossel, S. (2016, January 19). The 10 Habits of Highly Effective Countries. Retrieved from
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/01/19/myanmar_democracy_human_rights/
Onishi, N., & Belson, K. (2011, April 27). Culture of Complicity Tied to Stricken Nuclear Plant. New York
Times.
Ostrowski, W. (2011). Rentierism, Dependence, and Sovereignty in Central Asia. In S. N. Cummings & R.
Hinnebusch (Eds.), Sovereignty after Empire: Comparing the Middle East and Central Asia (pp. 282-303).
Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Pant, H. V., & Joshi, Y. (2015). Indian Foreign Policy Responds to the U.S. Pivot. Asia Policy(19), 89-114.
Pei, M. (2006). China's trapped transition : the limits of developmental autocracy. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
University Press.
Pye, L., & Pye, M. W. (1985). Asian Power and Politics : The Cultural Dimensions of Authority. Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press.
Rudolph, L. (1986, February 9). The East Psychoanalyzed: Review of Asian Power and Politics by Lucian Pye.
New York Times.
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ASIAN POLITICS, ASIA/POLS 145, SPRING 2016
Schuman, M. (2009). The miracle: the epic story of Asia's quest for wealth (1st ed.). [New York]: Harper
Business.
Sen, A. (2013, June 19). Why India Trails China. New York Times. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/opinion/why-india-trails-china.html
Shorrocks, T. (2011, April 18). Naoto Kan and the End of 'Japan Inc.'. The Nation.
Varshney, A. (2001). Ethnic Conflict and Civil Society: India and Beyond. World Politics, 53(3), 362-398.
Whalen, C. (2015, May 5). India vs. China: A 21st Century Economic Battle Royal. National Interest.
Retrieved from http://nationalinterest.org/feature/india-vs-china-21st-century-economic-battle-royal-12805
Wilkinson, S. I. (2013). Electoral Competition, the State and Ethnic Violence. India Review, 12(2), 92-107.
Williamson, J. (2012). Is the "Beijing Consensus" Now Dominant? Asia Policy(13), 1-16.
Xiaoping, D. (1999). Emancipating the Mind. In Pei-Kai Cheng, Michael Lestz, & Jonathan Spence (Eds.), The
Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection (pp. 448-451). London: W.W. Norton.
Yusuf, S. (2001). The East Asian Miracle at the Millennium. In J. E. Stiglitz & S. Yusuf (Eds.), Rethinking the
East Asian Miracle (pp. 1-53). Washington DC: The World Bank.
ASIA/POLS 145 / ASIAN POLITICS/ Spring 2016 Course Schedule
Schedule is subject to change with fair notice on Canvas.
Course Schedule
Week
Date
Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines
1
Feb 1(M)
Intro: no reading
1
Feb 3 (W)
Politics: values [Pye 41-54; review by Rudolph of Pye]
2
Feb 8 (M)
Politics: values [Mahbubani 127-150; Pei 81-95]
2
Feb 10 (W)
Politics: authoritarianism in Burma [Nossel; Dearn]
3
Feb 15 (M)
Politics: authoritarianism in Central Asia [Ostrowski 282-303; ICG report]
3
Feb 17 (W)
1st quiz/documentary
4
Feb 22 (M)
Politics: religious conflict [Varshney 362-98; Wilkinson review of Varshney 92107]
4
Feb 24 (W)
Politics: religious conflict Pakistan [Abbas 201-16]
5
Feb 29 (M)
Economics: Asian model [Schuman 29-54]
5
Mar 2 (W)
Economics: Asian model [Klingner-Vidra 1-25]
6
Mar 7 (M)
Guest lecture on Chinese economic reform by Professor Hou
6
Mar 9 (W)
Economics: rethinking the model [Yusuf 5-10 and 15-34; Williamson 1-16]
7
Mar 14 (M)
Economics: political effects of recession [Lardy 5-13 and 137-54]
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ASIAN POLITICS, ASIA/POLS 145, SPRING 2016
Week
Date
Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines
7
Mar 16 (W)
Economics: India versus China [Bardhan Ch. 6; Whalen; Sen]
8
Mar 21 (M)
2nd quiz/documentary—India versus China
8
Mar 23 (W)
Economics: Sri Lanka [Herring 140-74]
9
Apr 4 (M)
Midterm exam
9
Apr 6 (W)
Economics: Chinese pollution [Economy 199-209]
10
Apr 11 (M)
Economics: Fukushima [Shorrocks; Onishi and Belson]
10
Apr 13 (W)
US policy: roots [Alagappa 65-114]
11
Apr 18 (M)
US policy: pivot to Asia [Campbell and Andrews; Forum]
11
Apr 20 (W)
US policy: India and Pakistan [Pant and Joshi]
12
Apr 25 (M)
US policy: India and Pakistan [Fair and Ganguly]
12
Apr 27 (W)
Islands: Australia [Healey 1-16]
13
May 2 (M)
13
May 4 (W)
Islands: Maldives [Hirsch 190-98]
3rd quiz/documentary—The Island President
14
May 9 (M)
Islands: South China Sea [Kaplan 5-21 and 41-50]
14
May 11 (W)
May 16 (M)
Islands: Philippines [Cruz de Castro]
May 19
(Th)
Final Exam HGH 116, 2:45 PM- 4 PM
15
15
Reserve Day, review for final exam
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