Great Powers of the Asia-Pacific Region (Spring)

Greetings!

My name is Andrei Kozinets.

The course “Great Powers of the Asia-Pacific Region” is designed to provide you with comprehensive conceptual and historical perspective of major powers cooperation and competition in the region.

It is widely accepted view that the XXI century is aimed to be “the Asian century”. Indeed, one should bear in mind that majority of great and emerging powers are located in the Asia-Pacific, and that countries of the region hold approximately half of the world GDP. Therefore, it won’t be a big exaggeration to say that Asia-Pacific Region is a cornerstone of contemporary world politics and economy.

Special attention will be paid towards the dynamics of Great Power politics in the Asia-Pacific and how these processes influence the international architecture of the whole region. There is considerable number of topics which are going to be scrutinized: unique features of Asian Regionalism (so called “ASEAN Way” and others), territorial disputes, historical memory, nuclear program of DPRK and its outcomes for international security in the region, potential military build-up and arms race, competitive projects of regional integration etc.

Capability of International Relations Theory for deeper understanding of the complex issues of the Asia-Pacific is going to be examined during the course. It should be taken into consideration that IR Theory as a discipline is not “American Social Science” anymore. The so-called ‘Non-Western International Relations Theory’ is clearly on the rise. Those who is striving to understand Asia-Pacific Region better needs to pay attention to the Non-Western IR Theory, Chinese IR School in particular.

COURSE OUTLINE

1. GENERAL
LEVEL OF STUDY: Undergraduate / Graduate
COURSE TITLE: Great Powers of the Asian-Pacific Region
SEMESTER OF STUDY: Spring
LECTURER: Andrei Kozinets, PhD in Political Science, Far Eastern Federal University, Department of International Studies, Assistant Professor

COURSEWORK BREAKDOWN

TEACHING HOURS           

ECTS CREDITS             

Lectures

36

1

Laboratory / workshops

18

0,5

Self-study assignment

54

1

Total (1 ECTS = 36 hrs.)

108

3

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes
After completion, students should be able to:

  • Understand major driving forces and imperatives of Great Power Politics in the Asia-Pacific;
  • Identify overarching international issues and topics in the Region;
  • Provide individual substantive analysis of international political and economic events in the Asian-Pacific Region;
  • Use different concepts of International Relations Theory (including Non-Western IR Theory Schools) while scrutinizing International Relations of the Asia-Pacific Region.

2. COURSE CONTENTS

This course is designed for International Relations, International Economy, Area Studies and Political Science majors and non-majors. It is aimed to provide you with comprehensive conceptual and historical perspective of major powers cooperation and competition in the region. Special attention will be paid to the evolution of Asia-Pacific Great Powers’ foreign policy and the dynamics of their relations over the last decades. Such issues as struggle for regional leadership between China and the USA, unique features of Asian Regionalism (so called “ASEAN Way” and others), territorial disputes, historical memory, nuclear program of DPRK and its outcomes for international security in the region, potential military build-up and arms race, competitive projects of regional integration will be extensively analyzed during the course.

3. STUDENTS’ PROGRESS ASSESSMENT

  Percetage        Points      
Participation 15% 15
Leading class session 5% 5
Paper proposal 5% 5
Paper critiques 5% 5
Midterm exam 15% 15
First Draft Research Paper comments comments
Final Draft Research Paper 35% 35
Final project 20% 20
Total: 100% 100

4. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Recommended Books:

  1. David Shambaugh & Michael Yahuda. International Relations of Asia.
  2. Robert G. Sutter. Chinese Foreign Relations: Power and Policy since the Cold War.
  3. Saadia M. Pekkanen, John Ravenhill & Rosemary Foot. Oxford Handbook of the International Relations of Asia.
  4. Andrei P. Tsygankov. Russia’s Foreign Policy: Change and Continuity in National Identity.
  5. Jing Huang, Alexander Korolev (eds.). International Cooperation in the Development of Russia’s Far East and Siberia.
  6. Thomas H. Henriksen. Cycles in US foreign policy since the Cold War.

Recommended web-sites

  1. Russian International Affairs Council (https://russiancouncil.ru/en/) – one of the leading think-tanks in Russia
  2. Valdai Discussion Club (https://valdaiclub.com/) – Russian think-tank known for its series of reports called “Towards a great ocean” devoted to Russian policy in the Asia-Pacific Region.
  3. Carnegie Moscow Center (https://carnegie.ru/) – Russian branch of one of the most prominent global international relations think-tanks.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM
Medical Self-Evaluation Form

FOR APPLICATION
please email your
applications here:


international@vvsu.ru

Mon-Thu: 8:30 - 17:30
Fri: 8:30-16:15


Andrei Kozinets (Mr.)
Assistant Professor, PhD in Political Science

kozinets.andrei@gmail.com