America and East Asia in a Globalized World: Globalization, Nationalism, and Regionalism
JSIS 484 B /JSIS 584 A
Professor Donald C. Hellmann
East Asia led by the continuing growth of China, will soon become the largest economic region in the world and, in due course, the Asian Century may succeed in the American Century. Whatever the ultimate result, global affairs in the first half of the 21st century will focus on the challenges of evaluating Asian regionalism, integrating Asia into the world and the capacity and will of the United States to lead. The global political economy will be rapidly transformed by 1) the digital revolution; 2) a dramatic shift in economic power; 3) new multilateral international institutions to mediate these changes; 4) new types of security threats, military cyber and economic; 5) a challenge to the U.S. and the universality of the democratic capitalist principles; and 6) developing a viable regional order with a hegemonic China; 7) erratic Trumpian nationalism.
The course discusses the historical forces that have given rise to these ideas globally and especially in East Asia and frames the questions facing this region in the increasingly inter-dependent but non-convergent 21st-century world.
Graduate students will take a five to six-page take-home final and write a 12-15 page paper on a topic of their special interest, established in consultation with the professor.
Undergraduate grades will be primarily based on a take-home final examination and two five-page papers on topics worked out with the professor. All students are expected to do the readings and participate in classroom discussions on the readings of the week elaborated by 30-minute lectures by the professor.
For additional Spring Courses offered in Jackson School see: https://jsis.washington.edu/