IS412Peace and Conflict in Northeast Asia: China, Korea and Japan
2014 International Summer Session in Korean and East Asian Studies (ISS)
Instructor: Antonio Fiori, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Asian Politics
University of Bologna, Italy
email: antonio.fiori@unibo.it
Northeast Asia, as defined to include China, Japan, North and South Korea, undoubtedly
constitutes one of the largest economic zones in the world in terms of population, natural resources, and
potential market size, as well as its vast trade and investment opportunities. It has been and still is one
of the most dynamic areas of the world economy, mainly owing to the phenomenal economic growth of
the region's market economies, and, more recently, also that of China. Despite the noteworthy
economic achievements, this region remains somewhat unstable from the political point of view: the
territorial division and continuing stalemate between North and South Korea, Japanese-Soviet
territorial disputes, tense PRC-Taiwan relations, without mentioning the pivotal and much debated role
played by the United States.
The main objective of this course is to shed light on the relevant features of the relationships
among the main regional actors, and between them and the United States. In this regard, the main focus
of the course will be considering the sources of tension among actors and understanding to what extent
these tensions could undermine the pacific coexistence in the region. Therefore, in order to understand
the actual situation of the region, particular attention will be given to the historical framework since the
Japanese defeat in WWII. Particular attention will be reserved to the actual situation of the Korean
peninsula as, on one hand, “battlefield” – by looking carefully at the nature of the relations between
China and the DPRK and between the USA and the ROK – and, on the other hand, as diplomatic
terrain through the implementation of the Sunshine Policy and the establishment of the six-party talks.
Course Requirements: As class participation is an important part of the final course grade, students
are expected to attend each class period unless unusual circumstances preclude it. Students will be
expected to participate actively in class discussions, and to write one final paper on a subject given by
the instructor, and within the framework of this course. The paper should be approximately ten pages
long (this does not include notes and/or bibliography), typed, and double-spaced. Plagiarism will not
be tolerated in any form.
Grades: Grades will be based on active participation (50%) and on the final paper (between 4.000 and
5.000 words) (50%).
Reading Assignments will consist of journal articles, substantial scholarly opinion columns as well as
excerpts from books. All of these reading materials will be in English as will the lectures. Among
others, the following two books represent a very good approach to the course topics:
M. Yahuda, The International Politics of the Asia Pacific (third and revised edition), Routledge, 2011.
D. Shambaugh, M. Yahuda, International Relations of Asia, Rowman & Littlefield, 2008.
READINGS AND DISCUSSION SCHEDULE
First week: Introduction to Conflict and Peace Theoretical Framework and to International
Relations of Northeast Asia
Readings:
- R. Ross (1999) “The Geography of the Peace”, International Security, 23, 4, 81-118.
- S. Haggard (2004) “The Balance of Power, Globalization, and Democracy: International
Relations Theory in Northeast Asia”, Journal of East Asian Studies, 4, 1, 1-38.
- A. Acharya (2008) “Theoretical Perspectives on International Relations in Asia”, in D.
Shambaugh and M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman & Littlefield, 5784.
Second week: East Asia After the Cold War
Readings:
- Y. Zhang (2003) Pacific Asia: The Politics of Development. London: Routledge, Chapters 1, 2.
- T. Christensen (2006) Fostering Stability or Creating a Monster? The Rise of China and U.S.
Policy toward East Asia, International Security, 31, 1, 81-126.
- A. Acharya (2004) Will Asia’s Past Be Its Future?, International Security, 28, 3, 149-164.
Video: University of California Television. Conversations With History: Rise of Asia and Decline of
the West (Kishore Mahbubani, 2008).
Discussion: Do you consider this as the Asian Century? What are the main characteristics of
Notheast Asia as you know it?
Third week: The Korean Peninsula
Readings:
- D.H. Lee (2003) “The Korean Sunshine Policy: its Light and Shade”, Pacific Focus, 18, 1, 175200.
- S. Snyder (2008) “The Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asian Stability”, in D. Shambaugh and
M. Yahuda (eds.), International Relations of Asia, Rowman & Littlefield, 258-276.
- V. Cha and D. Kang (2004) “Can North Korea be Engaged? An Exchange between Victor Cha
and David Kang”, Survival, 46, 2, 89-108.
Video: Kimjongilia (2009), directed by N.C. Heikin.
Discussion: How would you solve the North Korean issue? What is the future of the Korean
peninsula?
Fourth week: China’s Rise and its Role in the Region
Readings:
- W.A. Callahan (2008) “Chinese Visions of World Order: Post-hegemonic or a New
Hegemony?”, International Studies Review, 10, 4, 749-761.
- M. Yahuda (2011) Chapter 6 (“China and the Asia-Pacific”) and Chapter 10 (“China’s
Rising”).
- Q. Zhao (2005) “Beijing’s Dilemma with Taiwan: War or Peace?”, Pacific Review 18, 2, 21742.
Video: China: The Rebirth of an Empire (2010), directed by Jesse and Jeremy Veverka.
Discussion: What’s the role of PRC in the Northeast Asian region? Do you think China is going to
assume the role of “regional hegemon” (and what will it mean for its neighbors and for the
United States).
Fifth week: Japan and the United States: Two Pivotal Actors in the Region
Readings:
- M. Green (2008) “Japan in Asia”, in D. Shambaugh and M. Yahuda (eds.), International
Relations of Asia, Rowman & Littlefield, 170-194.
- M. Yahuda (2011) “Japan: Coping with Relative Decline”, in M. Yahuda, The International
Politics of the Asia Pacific, 314-340.
- M. Yahuda (2011) “The United States: From the end of the Cold War to the War on Terrorism
and Beyond”, in M. Yahuda, The International Politics of the Asia Pacific, 223-268.
- R. Sutter (2008) “The US in Asia”, in D. Shambaugh and M. Yahuda (eds.), International
Relations of Asia, Rowman & Littlefield, 85-103.
Video: Empires at War (2008), directed by A. Dufour.
Discussion: Is the US a “Pacific” Power? What’s the real role US is playing in Asia?