• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of major schools of international relations theory, and be able to identify their different assumptions, logics and arguments.
• Show a basic understanding of the role of the state, institutions and politics in social and economic affairs at the national, transnational and international levels.
• Be able to apply international relations theories on empirical realities in the Asian region, with an emphasis on China and Japan.
• Develop an understanding of the heterogeneity of Asian countries and how it shapes dynamics among them in regional and global affairs.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically think about and discuss international relations in Asia, both from a conceptual angle and from empirical evidence.

This course introduces major theories of international relations, and discusses how they can help us understand issues of conflict and security in Asia. Particular attention will be paid to developing strong analytical skills for dissecting the complex nature of relations among Asian countries and thus situate security issues in the wider economic and social dynamics of the region. Throughout the course the history and positions of enmity and amity of important regional actors such as China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries will be discussed.
 
The course is divided into two parts. The first part is organized according to schools of international relations theory: Realism and Liberalism, Neo-realism and Neo-liberalism, The English school, Marxism and Critical Theory, Constructivism, Securitization and Regional Security Complex Theory as well as theories on foreign policy and domestic agendas. These theories are applied to explain and interpret Asian phenomena, but at the same time Asian experiences are employed to critique existing theories that are mainly based on Western history.
 
The second part discusses international issues central to Asia with an emphasis on Asian values, growth and development, climate and sustainability, regionalism, and the relations between Asia and the rest of the world. 

This course is part of the overall Year One theme, "Comparative Cultural and Social Analysis". The course is intended for students of the Asian Studies Programme in general and serves as an intellectual preparation for the 2nd and 3rd year courses.

Session 1: Realism and Liberalism                    
Dunne, Tim and Brian C. Schmidt. (2001). Realism. In: John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds.). (2001). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 141-161.
 
Dunne, Tim. (2001). Liberalism. In: John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds.). (2001). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 162-181. 
 
Session 2: Neorealism and Neoliberalism       
Waltz, Kenneth. (1979). Theory of International Politics. McGraw-Hill, pp. 79-128.
 
Keohane, Robert. (1989). Neoliberal Institutionalism: A Perspective on World Politics. In: Robert Keohane. International Institutions and State Power: Essays in International Relations Theory. Westview Press, pp. 1-20. 
 
Lamy, Steven L. (2001). Contemporary mainstream approaches: neo-realism and neo-liberalism. In: John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds.). (2001). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 182-199.
 
 

Session 3: The English School                               

Dunne, Tim. (2013). The English School. In: Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki and Steve Smith (eds). International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 132-152.

Bull, Hedley. (1984). The Emergence of a Universal International Society. In: Hedley Bull and Adam Watson (eds.), The Expansion of International Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 117-26.

Quayle, Linda. (2012). ‘Bridging the gap: an ‘English School’ perspective on ASEAN and regional civil society’, The Pacific Review, Vol. 25(2), pp. 199-222.

Session 4: Constructivism                                      

Smith, Steve. (2001). Reflectivist and constructivist approaches to international theory. John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds.). (2001). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 224-249.

Wendt, Alexander. (1992). ’Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics’, International Organization, vol. 46(2), pp. 391-425.

Jepperson, Ronald L., Alexander Wendt and Peter J. Katzenstein (1996). Norms, Identity, and Culture in National Security. In: Peter J. Katzenstein (ed). (1996). The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in World Politics. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 33-75.

Session 5: Securitization and Regional Security Complex Theory

Buzan, Barry, Ole Wæver and Jaap de Wilde. (1997). Security: A New Framework for Analysis. London: Lynne Riener, pp. 21-47.

Buzan, Barry and Ole Wæver. (2003). Regions and Powers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 3-26; 144-182.

Mid term evaluation.

Session 6: Trade regimes and Asia

Little, Richard. (2001). International Regimes. In: John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds.). (2001). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 299-316.

Session 7: Nationalism and domestic agendas

Halliday, Fred. (2001). Nationalism. In: John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds.). (2001). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 440-455.

Okuyama, Michiaki. (2009). ‘The Yasukuni Shrine Problem in the East Asian Context: Religion and Politics in Modern Japan’, Politics and Religion 3, 2, pp. 235-50.

Session 8: Asian values and IR

Zakaria, Fareed and Lee Kuan Yew. (1994). ‘Culture is Destiny: A Conversation with Lee Kuan Yew’, Foreign Affairs 73, 2, pp. 109-26.

Kim, Dae Jung. (1994). ‘Is Culture Destiny? The Myth of Asia's Anti-Democratic Values’, Foreign Affairs 73, 6, pp. 189-94.

Session 9: Growth and development

Phillips, Nicola. (2011). Globalization and Development. In: John Ravenhill (ed.), Global Political Economy, (3. Ed.). Oxford University Press, pp. 416-449.

Stubbs, Richard. (2009). ‘What Ever Happened to the East Asian Developmental State? The Unfolding Debate’, The Pacific Review, 22,1, pp. 1-22.

Session 10: Sustainability, climate and environment

Cheng, Fang-Ting. (2015). The Strategic Partnerships on Climate Change in Asia-Pacific Context: Dynamics of Sino-U.S. Cooperation. In: Walter Leal Filho (ed). (2015). Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region. London: Springer, pp. 227-244.

Schreurs, Miranda A. (2010). ‘Multi‐level Governance and Global Climate Change in East Asia’, Asian Economic Policy Review, Vol. 5(1), pp.88-105.

Cronin, Richard. (2009). ‘Mekong Dams and the Perils of Peace’, Survival, 51, 6: pp. 147-59.

Session 11: Asian regionalism

Ravenhill, John. (2010). ‘The ‘new East Asian regionalism’: A political domino effect’, Review of International Political Economy, 17, 2: pp. 178-208.

Selden, Mark. (2009). ‘East Asian Regionalism and its Enemies in Three Epochs: Political Economy and Geopolitics, 16th to 21st Centuries’, The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 9-4-09, pp. 1-25.

Session 12: Asia in the world

Beeson, Mark and Stephen Bell. (2009). ‘The G-20 and International Economic Governance: Hegemony, Collectivism, or Both’, Global Governance 15, 1, pp. 67-86.

Mahbubani, Kishore. (2011). ‘Can Asia Re-Legitimize Global Governance?’, Review of International Political Economy 18, 1, pp. 131-39.

Final course evaluation, 40 minutes