International Relations of East Asia

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 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.