Asia Security - JPM697

• Title: Asia Security
• Guaranteed by: Department of Security Studies (23-KBS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: both
• E-Credits: 6
• Hours per week, examination: 1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: winter:30 / 30 (18); summer:unknown / unknown (18)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan; you can enroll for the course in winter and in summer semester
• Guarantor: doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students
• Incompatibility : JPM644

Annotation

Last update: doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D. (02.10.2023)

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. But, 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 the present situation. Third part will help us understand the 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 interpretations of contemporary situation on several key case studies (North Korean nuclear program, rise of China etc.).

Moodle link for the course: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=8589 (inclusive of all the literature, presentations, etc.)

Aim of the course

Last update: doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D. (02.10.2023)

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.

Course completion requirements

Last update: doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D. (02.10.2023)

Students can get altogether 100 points. This is divided into a research paper/research presentation of approx 3000-5000 words (30) and a final written test (70). 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

General Grade	Grade Specification	Percentage
A - excellent	Excellent upper (1)	100 – 96
	Excellent lower (2)	95 - 91
B – very good	Very good upper (1)	90 - 86
	Very good lower (2)	85 – 81
C - good	Good upper (1)	80 – 76
	Good lower (2)	75 – 71
D - satisfactory	Satisfactory upper (1)	70 – 66
	Satisfactory lower (2)	65 – 61
E - sufficient	Sufficient  upper (1)	60 - 56
	Sufficient lower (2)	55 - 51
F - fail		50 - 0

Literature

Last update: doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D. (04.10.2022)

ALL THE REQUIRED LITERATURE FOR EACH CLASS IS UPLOADED IN MOODLE: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=8589

Teaching methods

Last update: doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D. (26.09.2023)

This is an in-class lecture.

Syllabus

Last update: doc. Mgr. Michal Kolmaš, Ph.D. (23.09.2023)

PLEASE FIND THE DETAILED SYLLABUS ON MOODLE: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=8589

The course can basically 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.

Lecture outline - please find all the required literature in the Moodle.

1) Introduction

2) What is East Asia - formation of the region

3) IR theory and Asia - non Western approaches revisited

4) East Asian history

5) Cultures and societies - Japan, Koreas

6) Cultures and societies - China, Taiwan

7) Contemporary issues I - North Korean nuclear program

8) Contemporary issues II - Island disputes

9) Contemporary issues III - the rise of China

10) Contemporary issues IV - US Pivot to Asia

11) Contemporary issues V - societal issues

12) Final review game