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The course is taught this semester (Fall 2021) ONLINE only.
The course is designed to shed light on the main security issues in the region of Asia Pacific. 20 years ago, Aaron Friedberg suspected that Europe’s past will be Asia’s future. He argued that Asia’s 21st century will be prone to security disturbances with Asian countries reverting to realist policies of national interest pursue. The lecturer of this course believes that in order to predict potential conflicts and security issues in the region, simple power analogies without cultural basis are not sufficient. This course will thus go in different direction that Friedberg’s study; it will investigate Asian security in its historical, cultural and social context. Basically, it can be divided into four parts. The first part will illustrate Asian IR theories and schools of thought. Second part will illustrate historical roots of present situation. Third part will make us understand cultural basis of the most ‘prominent’ societies in Asia (or, most relevant for current security environment, i.e. Japan, China, the Koreas, ASEAN). Fourth part will then connect these into interpretation of contemporary situation. Poslední úprava: Kolmaš Michal, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (14.09.2021)
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Upon successfully completing the course, the students should be able to identify, explain and interpret the main security issues that the Asia-Pacific region is dealing with. They should also be able to discuss the historical roots of these conflicts and their theoretical interpretations. Students should be able to understand the security situation with regard to the regional and extraregional actors and their policy preferences. By intertwining theory with actual policy outcomes, students should be able to create their own research proposals and plans. Poslední úprava: Kolmaš Michal, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (02.10.2023)
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Students can get altogether 100 points. This is divided into a research paper/research presentation of approx 3000-5000 words (40) and a final written test (60). For the presentation/paper, students will choose their own topic (can discuss it with the lecturer but do not necessarily have to). The paper must possess 1) a sound research question and preferably an argument, 2) a theoretical evaluation and/or a review of existing scholarly literature on the topic of inquiry, 3) rigorous empirical evaluation based in relevant academic sources. The paper is supposed to be a group work of groups of 4-5 people (could be more or less, depends on the class size). The paper must be sent to the lecturer by 3rd of December 2023 23:59 CET, to the Moodle paper submission folder (https://dl1.cuni.cz/mod/assign/view.php?id=721407)
The test will be in the form of several (7) open questions regarding the in-class lectures as well as the required literature. The use of books/other materials is prohibited during the exam. Students are expected to participate in class discussions. Moodle link with all the other information including required readings: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=8589
Evaluation
Poslední úprava: Kolmaš Michal, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (12.09.2024)
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Shambaugh, David: International relations in Asia: A multidimensional analysis. In. Shambaugh – Yahuda (2014): International relations of Asia. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, pp. 3-33 Katzenstein, Peter J. – Hemmer, Christopher (2002): Why Is There No NATO in Asia? Collective Identity, Regionalism and the Origins of Multilateralism. In. International Organization, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 576-607 Buzan, Barry – Amitav, Acharya (2010): Non-western international relations theory. London: Routledge. Pages 1-26 Drulak, Petr (2013): Non-western reflection on politics. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. Pages 11-21 Simone, Vera (2001): The Asian Pacific political and economic development in a global context. California: Pearson, pp. 25-66 and 304-370 Kolmaš, Michal (2019): National identity and Japanese revisionism, London: Routledge, chapters 2 and 3 Kolmaš, M. - Š. Kolmašová (2019): A pivot that never existed: America's Asian strategy under Obama and Trump, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 32 (1) Zhao, Suisheng (2011): China’s Approaches Toward Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Motivations and Calculations. In. Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 20, No. 68, pp. 53-67 Martel, Stephanie (2020): The Polysemy of Security Community-Building: Toward a “People-Centered” Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)? International Studies Quarterly 64 (3): 588-599 Kelly, Michael J. – Watts, Sean (2010): Rethinking the Security Architecture of North East Asia. In. Victoria University of Wellington Law Review, Vol. 41, pp. 273-289 Howell, E. (2020): The juche H-bomb? North Korea, nuclear weapons and regime-state survival, International Affairs 96 (4): 1051-1068 Jennne, N. (2017): Managing Territorial Disputes in Southeast Asia: Is There More than the South China Sea?, in: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 36, 3, 35–61. Yan, Xuetong (2001): The rise of China in Chinese eyes, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 10, No. 26, 33-39 Cruz, M and SA Ahmed (2018): On the impact of demographic change on economic growth and poverty, World Development, accessible at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.12.018 Ito, Takatoshi – Rose, Andrew K. (2010): The Economic Consequences of Demographic Change in East Asia. Chicago: Chicago University Press, pp. 1-19 Poslední úprava: Kolmaš Michal, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (26.01.2021)
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This is an in-class lecture. Poslední úprava: Kolmaš Michal, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (26.09.2023)
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Asia security/Contemporary IR in East Asia (JPM 697) Fall semester 2021 6 ECTS Monday 17:00-18:20, Zoom https://cesnet.zoom.us/j/5559573192, Meeting ID 555 957 3192 - ONLY ONLINE THIS TERM. Lecturers doc. Michal Kolmas, Ph.D. (michal.kolmas@mup.cz, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michal_Kolmas2) Course description The course is designed to shed light on the main security issues in the region of Asia Pacific. 20 years ago, Aaron Friedberg suspected that Europe’s past will be Asia’s future. He argued that Asia’s 21st century will be prone to security disturbances with Asian countries reverting to realist policies of national interest pursue. The lecturer of this course believes that in order to predict potential conflicts and security issues in the region, simple power analogies without cultural basis are not sufficient. This course will thus go in different direction that Friedberg’s study; it will investigate Asian security in its historical, cultural and social context. Basically, it can be divided into four parts. The first part will illustrate Asian IR theories and schools of thought. Second part will illustrate historical roots of present situation. Third part will make us understand cultural basis of the most ‘prominent’ societies in Asia (or, most relevant for current security environment, i.e. Japan, China, the Koreas, ASEAN). Fourth part will then connect these into interpretation of contemporary situation. Aims of the course Upon successfully completing the course, the student should be able to identify, explain and interpret the main security issues that Asia-Pacific region is dealing with. He/she should also be able to discuss the historical roots of these conflicts and their theoretical interpretations. Students should be able to understand the security situation with regard to the regional and extraregional actors and their policy preferences. By intertwining theory with actual policy outcomes, students should be able to create their own research proposals and plans. Learning Outcomes Structure of the course: 1) Introduction to the course 2) What is EAST ASIA? How do we define what is a region? How is region constituted? In the first lecture, we will discuss theories stemming from realist and constructivist schools and their explanation of the region formation. In order to illustrate the specificity of the context, intellectual traditions and their interpretation of region will be discussed. Required literature: Shambaugh, David: International relations in Asia: A multidimensional analysis. In. Shambaugh – Yahuda (2014): International relations of Asia. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, pp. 3-33 Katzenstein, Peter J. – Hemmer, Christopher (2002): Why Is There No NATO in Asia? Collective Identity, Regionalism and the Origins of Multilateralism. In. International Organization, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 576-607
3) IR theory, Western dominance and Asian response. Intellectual traditions and identity This theoretical lecture will provide some useful insights into the difference between Western and non-Western international relations traditions. It will critique the prevailing intellectual dominance of the West and show, how Asian legacies were muted by Western power position. Furthermore, the class will provide a theoretical evaluation of the concept of identity and its possible applications to Asian surroundings. Buzan, Barry – Amitav, Acharya (2010): Non-western international relations theory. London: Routledge. Pages 1-26 Drulak, Petr (2013): Non-western reflection on politics. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. Pages 11-21
4)East Asian history The lecture will go through the legacy of colonization and decolonization, formation of modern states and their identities. It will also mention and set into context the wars of 19th and 20th century up to the Second World War. Briefly, it will also discuss post-war developments. Simone, Vera (2001): The Asian Pacific political and economic development in a global context. California: Pearson, pp. 25-66 and 304-370
5) Actors, societies and their interests – Japan In order to better understand the dynamics of East Asian security nexus, two lectures will define the role and foreign policies of major regional actors. First lecture will introduce Japan’s and Korean interests in the region with emphasis on the rise of Japanese nationalism and the evolution of Japan-Korea relations. Kolmaš, Michal (2019): National identity and Japanese revisionism, London: Routledge, chapters 2 and 3
6) Actors, societies and their interests – China, Taiwan, ASEAN Second actor based lecture will introduce the basic definition of China’s political system and China’s perception of foreign policy conduct. It will also define China’s preferences and overall opinion about ‘others’ – both intellectual (legacy and disillusion about the tributary system) and practical (one China policy etc.). It will also briefly mention ASEAN and Taiwan’s foreign political aims. Zhao, Suisheng (2011): China’s Approaches Toward Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Motivations and Calculations. In. Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 20, No. 68, pp. 53-67 Martel, Stephanie (2020): The Polysemy of Security Community-Building: Toward a “People-Centered” Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)? International Studies Quarterly 64 (3): 588-599
7) Contemporary issues I – North Korea, proliferation, 6 party talks First ‘practical’ lecture will deal with the ‘North Korean’ problem. It will describe the history of Korean totalitarian regime, its basic principles and problems it has caused. It will discuss the role of international organizations and regional actors in mitigating the conflicts. It will also present initiatives such as Agreed framework, Sunshine policy or 6 party talks and their influence on the diplomatic talks. Hecker, Siegfried S. (2010): Lessons learned from the North Korean nuclear crises. Daedalus, 139(1), 44–56. Howell, E. (2020): The juche H-bomb? North Korea, nuclear weapons and regime-state survival, International Affairs 96 (4): 1051-1068
8)Contemporary issues II – Island disputes – Senkaku/Diaoyu, the Kuriles, Paracels/Spratlys Second practical lecture will deal with probably the biggest nowadays issues concerning relations of China with other regional countries, specifically Japan, Vietnam and others. We will discuss the history and present states of the Diaoyu/Senkaku island dispute and the Kuriles island dispute. The lecture will briefly mention other maritime disputes and tensions in the South China Sea. Jennne, N. (2017): Managing Territorial Disputes in Southeast Asia: Is There More than the South China Sea?, in: Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 36, 3, 35–61.
9)Contemporary issues III – rising China, cross-strait relations Third practical lecture will concentrate on the security tension arising from the economic development of China. China’s rise, military investment, and the history of its relations with Taiwan will be discussed. Also, United States’ role will be subject to analysis in historical and also present perspective. Yan, Xuetong (2001): The rise of China in Chinese eyes, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 10, No. 26, 33-39 (2020) The rise of China, balance of power theory and US national security: Reasons for optimism?, Journal of Strategic Studies, 43:2, 175-216, DOI: 10.1080/01402390.2018.1558056
10) Contemporary issues IV – American pivot to Asia and Donald Trump Fourth practical lecture will illustrate the ineffectiveness of Obama’s pivot policy and the lack of trust and the chaos brought by Trump’s Asia policy Kolmaš, Michal and Šárka Kolmašová (2019): A pivot that never existed: American Asian strategy under Obama and Trump, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Vol. 32, No 1
11) Contemporary issues V – soft security – demographic problems, environmental degradation, economic crises Last security lecture will step back from hard security issues concerning the region into more ‘soft security’ problems that East Asia is dealing with. It will concentrate on the demographic problems of some Asian states (primarily Japan and China) and on the environmental degradation. It will also briefly mention economic troubles of some Asian states along with the 1990’s economic crises. Ito, Takatoshi – Rose, Andrew K. (2010): The Economic Consequences of Demographic Change in East Asia. Chicago: Chicago University Press, pp. 1-19 Cruz, M and SA Ahmed (2018): On the impact of demographic change on economic growth and poverty, World Development, accessible at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.12.018
12) Student presentations 13)Final game – be sure to come (or join the online session), you can gain extra points.
Course requirements Students can get altogether 100 points. This is divided into a group research paper (30) and final written test (70). For the paper, students will form groups of 4-5 people and choose their own topic (can discuss it with the lecturer but does not necessarily have to). The paper will be of 7-10 pages (2-3k words). The paper must possess 1) a sound research question (and, if needed, a hypothesis), 2) a theoretical evaluation and/or a literature review of existing scholarly literature, 3) rigorous empirical evaluation based in relevant academic sources. The paper must be submitted to my email (Michal.kolmas@mup.cz) by 30th of April. It will be presented in the 12th lecture. The test will be in the form of several (7) open questions regarding the in-class lectures as well as the required literature. Students are expected to participate in class discussions.
Evaluation
Course rules The Code of Study and Examination of Charles University in Prague provides the general framework of study rules at the university. According to art. 6, par. 17 of this Code, “a student may not take any examination in any subject entered in his study plan more than three times, i.e. he shall have the right to two resit dates; no extraordinary resit date shall be permitted. (…) If a student fails to appear for an examination on the date for which he has enrolled without duly excusing himself, he shall not be marked; the provision of neither this nor of the first sentence shall constitute the right to arrange for a special examination date.” Any written assignment composed by the student shall be an original piece. The practices of plagiarism, defined by the Dean’s Provision no. 18/2015, are seen as “a major violation of the rules of academic ethics” and “will be penalized in accordance with Disciplinarian Regulations of the faculty.” Poslední úprava: Kolmaš Michal, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (14.09.2021)
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