Asia and the World

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Time commitment totals 170 hours.

Entry into the Master of International Relations.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This is an advanced introduction to international politics in Asia. The subject explores the shift of global power to Asia and and provides a broad coverage of the regions relations with the great powers and international/regional institutions, including important issues like democratisation, economic globalisation and security. The course consists of three sections. The first section provides historical reviews of developments in Asia through understanding the roles played by external powers, and how the Asian powers are aligned both vertically (historically) and horizontally (across a specific historical juncture). Section two examines the issue of economic globalisation after the 1990s, particularly the rise of China and India. Special attention is paid to Japan’s bubble economy and the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. These seminars also cover Asia’s responses to economic globalisation by looking at particular reforms at the state level and initiatives at the regional level. The last section investigates topical interests related to Asia: democratisation, nuclear issues, the environment, and energy security.

• Developing a critical understanding of the key issues and challenges faced by Asian states in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
• Developing an understanding of the relationship between developments in Asia and international/regional politics, and how to theorise this relationship.
• Developing a critical understanding of the debates related to the region, its institutions and important issues in the ageof globalisation.
• Developing an understanding of Australia’s past, present, and future role in Asia.

• A class presentation, 10% (due during semester, each student is required to give a presentation between weeks 3-12)
• Ten 300-word reflective essays (based on weekly readings), 6% each, 60% in total, (due weeks 3-12)
• A 2-hour examination, 30% (during examination period)

Hurdle requirements: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject.

Reading materials supplied by the Institute.

Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Asian Security Practice: Material and Ideational Influences (Stanford University Press)

Other recommended books include: Michael K. Connors, Rémy Davison, Jörn Dosch (eds.), The New Global Politics of the Asia-Pacific (Routledge); Mark Beeson, Regionalism and Globalisation in East Asia (Palgrave Macmillan).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Applying research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry
• Developing persuasive arguments on a given topic
• Communicating oral and written arguments and ideas effectively
• Developing cross-cultural understanding

This subject is a compulsory component of the Master of International Relations.