Asian History and Institutions
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the most relevant historical events occurred in Central, South and East Asia (with a focus on China, India and Pakistan) from World War II to the 90s. It also aims to provide the conceptual tools to critically analyse some more recent events.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the most important historical events of Central, South and East Asia after World War II. They will also have acquired the conceptual tools needed to critically analyse more recent events and their connection with the historical, geostrategic and international relations dynamics, studied in other courses. Moreover, they will be able to appropriately express themselves on these themes, and to apply knowledge and skills acquired during this course to continue their studies on their own.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The first part of the course will focus on the contemporary history of China, from the decline of the Qing Empire in the XIX century to the present. The Chinese "short XX century" and the challenges that the Country faces today will be presented in the wider context of East Asia and South Asia. In particular, the course will consider the diplomatic and economic relations with Japan. The aim of the course is to provide insights into the political, economic and cultural dimensions of the Chinese path to modernity.
The second part of the course will examine political, diplomatic, economic and cultural aspects of contemporary history of Japan, from the late nineteenth-century expansionism, the Empire defeat in 1945, the reconstruction and economic boom years, until the recent quest for a new Japanese identity. This unit will consider the changing role of Japan in East Asia, considering China and the Korean peninsula in a comparative perspective.
Unit I:
1) Introduction; the fall of the Qing Empire and the parable of the republican system.
2) Nationalist government and warlords during the Great Depression.
3) Growth and victory of the communist alternative.
4) Post-World War II, between civil war and reconstruction.
5) Economic policies and diplomacy in the Mao era.
6) Cultural revolution and coming out of diplomatic isolation.
7) The reform era.
8) Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.
9) China in the 21st century.
10) Conclusions.
Unit II:
1) Introduction; the Meiji Restoration.
2) The formation of the colonial empire. The colonial administration in Korea.
3) Japanese politics and diplomacy at the time of the Great War.
4) Economy and social changes in a developing country.
5) Politics and economics at the time of the authoritarian drift.
6) World War II and the collapse of the Empire.
7) The Korean Peninsula in the post-war period.
8) The economic boom and Japanese diplomacy in the Cold War era.
9) The 'lost twenty years' crisis in Japan and the Korean peninsula in the new millennium.
10) Conclusions.
The second part of the course will examine political, diplomatic, economic and cultural aspects of contemporary history of Japan, from the late nineteenth-century expansionism, the Empire defeat in 1945, the reconstruction and economic boom years, until the recent quest for a new Japanese identity. This unit will consider the changing role of Japan in East Asia, considering China and the Korean peninsula in a comparative perspective.
Unit I:
1) Introduction; the fall of the Qing Empire and the parable of the republican system.
2) Nationalist government and warlords during the Great Depression.
3) Growth and victory of the communist alternative.
4) Post-World War II, between civil war and reconstruction.
5) Economic policies and diplomacy in the Mao era.
6) Cultural revolution and coming out of diplomatic isolation.
7) The reform era.
8) Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.
9) China in the 21st century.
10) Conclusions.
Unit II:
1) Introduction; the Meiji Restoration.
2) The formation of the colonial empire. The colonial administration in Korea.
3) Japanese politics and diplomacy at the time of the Great War.
4) Economy and social changes in a developing country.
5) Politics and economics at the time of the authoritarian drift.
6) World War II and the collapse of the Empire.
7) The Korean Peninsula in the post-war period.
8) The economic boom and Japanese diplomacy in the Cold War era.
9) The 'lost twenty years' crisis in Japan and the Korean peninsula in the new millennium.
10) Conclusions.
Prerequisites for admission
A basic knowledge in contemporary history is recommended
Teaching methods
Lectures and classroom discussions. Active participation of students is encouraged
Teaching Resources
Part I (attending students):
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections regarding China from opium war to 1945, included in ch. 8, 9 and 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections regarding China from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 4, 6 (parte terza), 1, 3, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1, 2 (parte quinta).
Part I (non attending students):
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections regarding China from early modern period to 1945, included in chapters 6, 8, 9, 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections regarding China from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 4, 6 (parte terza), 1, 3, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1, 2 (parte quinta).
Part II (attending students):
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections on Japan from the end of the shogunate to 1945, included in ch. 8, 9, 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections on Japan from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 1, 6 (parte terza), 1, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1 (parte quinta).
Part II (non attending students):
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections on Japan from the reunification of the Country to 1945, included in ch. 6, 8, 9, 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections on Japan from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 1, 6 (parte terza), 1, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1 (parte quinta).
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections regarding China from opium war to 1945, included in ch. 8, 9 and 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections regarding China from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 4, 6 (parte terza), 1, 3, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1, 2 (parte quinta).
Part I (non attending students):
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections regarding China from early modern period to 1945, included in chapters 6, 8, 9, 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections regarding China from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 4, 6 (parte terza), 1, 3, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1, 2 (parte quinta).
Part II (attending students):
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections on Japan from the end of the shogunate to 1945, included in ch. 8, 9, 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections on Japan from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 1, 6 (parte terza), 1, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1 (parte quinta).
Part II (non attending students):
C. Holcombe, A History of East Asia, Cambridge University Press, 2017, sections on Japan from the reunification of the Country to 1945, included in ch. 6, 8, 9, 10.
A. Fiori, M. Milani, A. Passeri, Asia. Storia, istituzioni e relazioni internazionali, Le Monnier, 2022, sections on Japan from 1945 to the 2000s, included in ch. 1, 6 (parte terza), 1, 4, 6 (parte quarta); 1 (parte quinta).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam (2 open-ended questions) with the aim of assessing the knowledge of the themes dealt with by the programme, the capacity to interpret them in a critical manner and to espouse them with an adequate terminology
SPS/14 - ASIAN HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Dornetti Filippo
Professor(s)
Reception:
Friday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.
Videocall on Microsoft Teams. An appointment request in advance via email will be appreciated.