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Semester 1

Korean Politics and International Relations (ASST10155)

Subject

Asian Studies

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

4

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting Students are expected to have the equivalent academic background to University of Edinburgh 4th year degree students. Entry is at the discretion of the Course Organiser.

Course Summary

The course aims to introduce students to Korean politics and international relations in East Asia. The course first provides the overview of domestic politics of Korea and comparative perspectives with East Asian countries during the 20th and early 21st centuries paying attention to state formation, regime types, party systems, democratisation, political culture, and political economy. The course gradually moves on to developments in the international politics of East Asia. Here the interplay between external and regional powers is analysed, alongside the foreign policies of the main actors in the region.

Course Description

The course introduces students to the politics and international relations of Korea and East Asia. The course is divided in two parts. The first part of the course covers issues of state building, regime types, democratization, political culture, and economic development, including state-led development and the post-Asian crisis period. The second part of the course explores the regional and global dimension more in depth, by looking at the interaction between the two Koreas and their neighbours (China, Japan, Taiwan) as well as other players (primarily the United States). Special attention is also given to trends in Asian Regionalism (politics, security, and economy), soft power, and globalization.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%

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