JAP225 Government and Politics in Northeast Asia

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Ivo Plšek, M.A., M. P. P., Ph.D. (assistant), Ing. Ivo Plšek, M.A., M. P. P., Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Ing. Ivo Plšek, M.A., M. P. P., Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 23. 9. 10:00–11:40 B2.43, Tue 24. 9. 8:00–11:40 B2.43, Wed 25. 9. 10:00–11:40 B2.43, Thu 26. 9. 8:00–11:40 B2.43, Fri 27. 9. 8:00–11:40 D21, Mon 30. 9. 8:00–11:40 B2.43
Prerequisites
The ability to read academic texts, follow lectures and have discussions in English.
No other knowledge is required. This course is designed for both lower and upper level undergraduate and graduate students. However, since it discusses key political issues in Japan, Korea and Taiwan from a comparative perspective, students lacking in background in the politics of Northeast Asian region are encouraged to read following books in advance: For an introduction to East Asian Politics: Hayes, L. D. (2012). Political Systems of East Asia. ME Sharpe. For an introduction to comparative analysis: Chapter 5 of Rod Hague and Martin Harrop Comparative Government and Politics (London: Palgrave-Macmillan, 2009) and Chapter 7 of Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction (London: Routledge, 2003)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 56 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/56, only registered: 0/56, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/56
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Title of the course: Government and Politics in Northeast Asia
This course examines the origins, characteristics and dynamics of the political systems of the three most developed Asian democracies. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. These countries are significant due to their crucial geo-political positions in both the Cold War and the contemporary eras. These three cases also represent Asia’s most advanced market democracies; their histories of continuous transformation illustrate the relationship between economic growth, social change, and political power. Throughout this course, we will use a comparative approach. This will allow students to appreciate the particularities of each country while setting them against shared characteristics of the entire region.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will gain a better understaning of key political issues in Northeast Asia with multiple examples and will learn how to formulate their own arguments about these topics.
Syllabus
  • During the first half of the course, we will describe and explain the origin, characteristics, and the workings of Northeast Asian political systems. In the second half, the wider economic and social features within which these political systems operate will be covered. Instead of taking a country-by-country approach, teaching will be done comparatively, explicitly comparing Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Each lecture will be supported by examples from all three nations which will serve also serve to demonstrate how larger theories apply or do not apply to Northeast Asia. In each class, the lecturer will cover one specific political issue. Active student participation and classroom discussion will be also an integral part of the teaching method.
  • Section I
  • 1.Authoritarianism, Democratic Transition, and Multi-party Competition in Northeast Asia
  • 2.The Japanese Developmental State Model and its Korean and Taiwanese Variants
  • 3.Electoral and Party Systems in Northeast Asia
  • 4.Mass media, Voting Behaviour, and Public Opinion in Northeast Asia
  • 5.Social Movements and Civil Societies in Northeast Asia
  • Section II
  • 6.Global Integration and the Asian Financial Crisis
  • 7.Culture and Asian Democracy
  • 8.Human Rights, Migration, and Gender Politics in Northeast Asia
  • 9.Orthodox and Unorthodox Social Welfare Policy in Northeast Asia
  • 10.Labour and Agricultural Policy in Northeast Asia
Literature
  • FELL, Dafydd. Government and politics in Taiwan. First published. New York: Routledge, 2012, xvii, 276. ISBN 9780415575423. info
  • STOCKWIN, J. A. A. Governing Japan : divided politics in a resurgent economy. Fourth edition. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2008, xvi, 298. ISBN 9781405154161. info
  • Crony capitalismcorruption and development in South Korea and the Philippines. Edited by David C. Kang. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002, xv, 203 p. ISBN 052100408X. info
  • CHA, Victor D. Alignment despite antagonism : the United States-Korea-Japan security triangle. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999, ix, 373. ISBN 0804731926. info
  • RIGGER, Shelley. Politics in Taiwan : voting for democracy. First published. London: Routledge, 1999, ix, 229. ISBN 0415172098. info
  • CURTIS, Gerald L. The logic of Japanese politics : leaders, institutions, and the limits of change. New York: Columbia University, 1999, xxv, 303. ISBN 0231108435. info
  • America at war since 1945politics and diplomacy in Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. Edited by Gary Donaldson. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1996, xiv, 229 p. ISBN 0275956601. info
  • HAYES, Louis D. Introduction to Japanese politics. 2nd ed. New York: Marlowe & company, 1995, xii, 340. ISBN 156924846X. info
Teaching methods
Lectures with PowerPoint presentations, handouts and other materials; discussion on selected points of the presented topics.
Assessment methods
Participation and Concentration (50%)
Attention and interaction are necessary for this course. Both quantitative and qualitative aspects of participation during student discussions will be counted.
Final Exam (50% each)
Final exam - multiple choice.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2019/JAP225