This seminar introduces students to the historical and theoretical foundations of East Asian foreign and security affairs. The course primarily focuses on Northeast Asia—China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea—while occasionally drawing comparative insights from other regions. Through both classic and contemporary readings, students will gain the knowledge and conceptual tools necessary to analyze the region’s foreign policy debates and security dynamics. By the end of the course, students will be able to apply international relations theories and historical knowledge to explain and critically evaluate ongoing political and security developments in East Asia.
The first part of the course traces the evolution of East Asia’s international relations—from pre-modern tributary systems to the twentieth-century transformations shaped by imperialism, war, and decolonization. The second part examines the post–World War II politics of South Korea, North Korea, China, and Japan, with particular attention to democratization, alliance building, and economic development. The final section addresses contemporary challenges such as nuclear proliferation, historical and territorial disputes, and emerging alignments between the U.S.–Japan–South Korea and the China–Russia–North Korea blocs.
This is a discussion-intensive course. Students are expected to come to class having read all assigned materials and ready to actively engage in thoughtful dialogue. Each student will take turns leading discussions, giving short presentations, and participating in structured debates on current East Asian security and foreign policy issues. The quality of the seminar depends on consistent, informed participation and the collective effort of all students.