International Relations of East Asia
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
This course introduces students to the international relations of East Asia in a context characterized
by China's rise and by the growing rivalry with the United States. Focused on China's foreign policy
and its impact on the region, the course addresses a broad set of related issues, including: China's
domestic political system and its foreign policy decision-making process; the modernization of
China's armed forces; the Taiwan issue and Beijing's evolving policy toward Taipei; China's regional
diplomacy and its behaviour in territorial disputes; China's attitude toward international order in the
region and beyond. In addressing these issues, the course also looks at the interactions between
China's foreign policy and the policies implemented by other East Asian countries and by actors from
outside the region (the United States, Russia, India, as well as the European Union, including both its
institutions and some of its member states)
by China's rise and by the growing rivalry with the United States. Focused on China's foreign policy
and its impact on the region, the course addresses a broad set of related issues, including: China's
domestic political system and its foreign policy decision-making process; the modernization of
China's armed forces; the Taiwan issue and Beijing's evolving policy toward Taipei; China's regional
diplomacy and its behaviour in territorial disputes; China's attitude toward international order in the
region and beyond. In addressing these issues, the course also looks at the interactions between
China's foreign policy and the policies implemented by other East Asian countries and by actors from
outside the region (the United States, Russia, India, as well as the European Union, including both its
institutions and some of its member states)
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of the key issues pertaining to
China's rise, the rivalry between China and the United States, and the implications for the East Asian
region and beyond. They will have developed their ability to critically engage with such issues by
applying the relevant concepts and frameworks of International Relations theory. Moreover, they will
have gained the ability to gather information on these issues autonomously, based on a correct
identification of the appropriate sources.
China's rise, the rivalry between China and the United States, and the implications for the East Asian
region and beyond. They will have developed their ability to critically engage with such issues by
applying the relevant concepts and frameworks of International Relations theory. Moreover, they will
have gained the ability to gather information on these issues autonomously, based on a correct
identification of the appropriate sources.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course is composed of two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit will focus on civil-military relations in contemporary China: we will analyse how party-army relations evolved throughout the history of the People's Republic of China, with a focus on the role that the military plays in Chinese politics today and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process. The second unit will turn to China's military doctrine and to the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy: we will discuss doctrinal developments and analyse some examples of PLA operations, including naval operations in support of China's maritime claims and participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course is composed of an introduction on China's foreign policy since 1949 (book 1) and by two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit is focused on civil-military relations in contemporary China, and particularly on the evolution of party-army relations and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process (papers 1 to 4). The second unit is focused on the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy (paper 5 and book 2).
The course is composed of two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit will focus on civil-military relations in contemporary China: we will analyse how party-army relations evolved throughout the history of the People's Republic of China, with a focus on the role that the military plays in Chinese politics today and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process. The second unit will turn to China's military doctrine and to the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy: we will discuss doctrinal developments and analyse some examples of PLA operations, including naval operations in support of China's maritime claims and participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course is composed of an introduction on China's foreign policy since 1949 (book 1) and by two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit is focused on civil-military relations in contemporary China, and particularly on the evolution of party-army relations and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process (papers 1 to 4). The second unit is focused on the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy (paper 5 and book 2).
Prerequisites for admission
Although the course is open to all students, irrespective of their background, a preliminary knowledge of Contemporary History and International Relations Theory is assumed.
Teaching methods
While the focus of the lectures is on China, attending students will be involved in the preparation of class presentations on other East Asian states, such as Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. Concepts and models introduced during the lectures to analyse the Chinese case will thus be applied to different cases. At the end of the course, the case-studies will be compared in a final discussion aimed at identifying trends in the East Asian region at large.
Teaching Resources
ATTENDING STUDENTS
Reading list for attending students:
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335.
4. Simone Dossi, "'Upholding the Correct Political Direction'. The PLA Reform and Civil-Military Relations in Xi Jinping's China", The International Spectator, Vol. 53, No. 3 (2018), pp. 118-131.
5. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
6. Michael D. Swaine, "The PLA Role in China's Foreign Policy and Crisis Behavior", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 141-165.
7. M. Taylor Fravel, "The PLA and National Security Decisionmaking: Insights from China's Territorial and Maritime Disputes", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 249-273.
8. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
9. M. Taylor Fravel, "Cooperation and Escalation in Territorial Disputes", in Id., Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), pp. 10-69.
10. Marc Lanteigne, "China's UN Peacekeeping in Mali and Comprehensive Diplomacy", The China Quarterly, Vol. 239 (2019), pp. 635-655.
11. Andrea Ghiselli, "Civil-Military Relations and Organisational Preferences Regarding the Use of the Military in Chinese Foreign Policy: Insights from the Debate on MOOTW", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2018), pp. 421-442.
12. Simone Dossi, "The EU, China, and Nontraditional Security: Prospects for Cooperation in the Mediterranean Region", Mediterranean Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2015), pp. 77-96.
Students who are not familiar with China's foreign policy since 1949 should read the following book for a background (it will not be part of the exam): Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Book 1: Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
Book 2: Please, choose one of these two books: M. Taylor Fravel, Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008); Andrea Ghiselli, Protecting China's Interests Overseas. Securitization and Foreign Policy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021).
Papers (available through UNIMI's digital library):
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335 (if the book is not available at the library, please send an email to [email protected]).
4. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
5. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
Reading list for attending students:
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335.
4. Simone Dossi, "'Upholding the Correct Political Direction'. The PLA Reform and Civil-Military Relations in Xi Jinping's China", The International Spectator, Vol. 53, No. 3 (2018), pp. 118-131.
5. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
6. Michael D. Swaine, "The PLA Role in China's Foreign Policy and Crisis Behavior", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 141-165.
7. M. Taylor Fravel, "The PLA and National Security Decisionmaking: Insights from China's Territorial and Maritime Disputes", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 249-273.
8. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
9. M. Taylor Fravel, "Cooperation and Escalation in Territorial Disputes", in Id., Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), pp. 10-69.
10. Marc Lanteigne, "China's UN Peacekeeping in Mali and Comprehensive Diplomacy", The China Quarterly, Vol. 239 (2019), pp. 635-655.
11. Andrea Ghiselli, "Civil-Military Relations and Organisational Preferences Regarding the Use of the Military in Chinese Foreign Policy: Insights from the Debate on MOOTW", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2018), pp. 421-442.
12. Simone Dossi, "The EU, China, and Nontraditional Security: Prospects for Cooperation in the Mediterranean Region", Mediterranean Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2015), pp. 77-96.
Students who are not familiar with China's foreign policy since 1949 should read the following book for a background (it will not be part of the exam): Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Book 1: Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
Book 2: Please, choose one of these two books: M. Taylor Fravel, Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008); Andrea Ghiselli, Protecting China's Interests Overseas. Securitization and Foreign Policy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021).
Papers (available through UNIMI's digital library):
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335 (if the book is not available at the library, please send an email to [email protected]).
4. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
5. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
Assessment methods and Criteria
For attending students, the final evaluation will be based on: (1) active participation during classes and the presentation of the assigned papers (30 percent of the final mark); and (2) a written exam at the end of the course (70 percent of the final mark). For non-attending students, the final evaluation will be based on a written exam.
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Dossi Simone
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Dossi SimoneProfessor(s)
Reception:
On Tuesdays from 2.30 to 5.30 pm (in person or online via Teams). Students are kindly requested to make an appointment in advance via email.
Dipartimento di Studi internazionali, giuridici e storico-politici, via Conservatorio 7, 1st floor, room 8