Politics, Elites and Governance in Asia

2022/2023

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

3

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Institute of Asian and African Studies

Course type:

Elective course

When:

1 year, 3 module

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is tailored for students majoring in “Business and politics in modern Asia”, who want to learn more about the political development of Asian countries with a special focus on contemporary states of East Asia: China, Japan, ROK, DPRK and Vietnam. First, the course will discuss formation and evolution of the political regimes, processes of state- and nation-building in this region. Second, lecturers will introduce major state institutions and evaluate the role of regional governments, political parties, political elites, church and civil society. Moreover, the course will focus on forms and drivers of social movements and protests in the above-mentioned countries. Finally, students will also learn about policy-making processes and several selected policy areas, e.g. media and socio-economic policies.

Learning Objectives

• To give students an overview of the political development of Asia with a focus on China, Japan, the ROK, the DPRK and Vietnam.
• To develop students' skills in application of theoretical models to the analysis of political processes in China, Japan, the ROK, the DPRK and Vietnam.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Knows the typical features of policy process in China, role of society and local governments in this process.
• Applies the concepts of civil society and political participations to the analysis of socio-political processes in China.
• Gives examples of collective actions and protests in China.
• Knows how social media is used in China for political purposes both by political elites and netizens.
• Describes structure of political system in Japan, the ROK and the DPRK, key state (government, legislature, judiciary) and party institutions and their functions.
• Knows major facts about Japanese, the ROK’s and the DPRK’s political elites: characteristics and types, key strategies for success.
• Know the typical features of the policy process in Japan and the ROK, role of society (NGOs, Neighbourhood association, volunteers groups etc.) and local governments in this process.
• Applies the concepts of civil society and political participations to the analysis of socio-political processes in Japan.
• Gives examples of collective actions and protests in Japan and the ROK.
• Trace the evolution of Japanese political elites' opinion and Japanese society opinion regarding the need to revise the Constitution.
• Know current socio-economic problems in the ROK and Japan, their similarities and characteristics.
• Describes structure of political system in China and Vietnam, key state (government, legislature, judiciary) and party institutions and their functions.
• Knows major facts about Chinese and Vietnamese political elites: characteristics and types, selection, key strategies for success.
• Traces evolution of China’s economic policy.

Course Contents

• Part 1. Democratic states in East Asia: the ROK and Japan
• Part 2. Socialist states in East Asia: the DPRK, the PRC and Vietnam

Assessment Elements

• Exam
  The exam is a written test, which has 20 questions of different types: multiple choice, questions with open answers, etc. The students have 60 minutes to complete the test.
• In-class participation
  Lecturer evaluates students’ progress, including comprehension of lecture materials and assigned readings, as well as contribution to discussions. The component is calculated as an average grade achieved on all seminars.
• Newsletter
  One time per course the students have to prepare a newsletter. For a newsletter, they have to select 7-10 important events that have happened in different East Asian countries during one week (particular attention should be paid to China, Japan, South Korea, DPRK and Vietnam). For each event, students should 1) provide a title, 2) insert a photo (with information about its origins), 3) briefly describe what has happened, explain the background of this event, comment on its implications and importance, select 2-3 keywords 4) provide links to web-pages, journal articles or books which have further information on this topic. Information about each event should be 150-300 words. The students have to sign up for this assignment during week 1 of the course. This assignment is done in pairs or in groups depending on the number of students. Each group is responsible for covering events of one week and the newsletter should be sent to all students and lecturers on Monday after that week. Delay by one day results in minus one point.

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 3rd module
  0.4 * In-class participation + 0.4 * Exam + 0.2 * Newsletter

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• William A. Joseph. (2014). Politics in China : An Introduction, Second Edition: Vol. Second edition. Oxford University Press.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Heilmann, S. (2008). From Local Experiments to National Policy: The Origins of China’s Distinctive Policy Process. China Journal, 59, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1086/tcj.59.20066378
• Heilmann, S. (2008). Policy Experimentation in China’s Economic Rise. Studies in Comparative International Development, 43(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12116-007-9014-4
• Kim, S. S. (2006). The Two Koreas and the Great Powers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=167869
• Lieberthal, K., Li, C., & Yu, K. (2014). China’s Political Development : Chinese and American Perspectives. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=749054

Authors

• SOBOLEVA ELENA DMITRIEVNA
• KOROBOCHKINA ALYONA VALEREVNA