HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY EAST ASIA

The course aims to provide an overview of the most relevant historical, political, and economic developments that have taken place in East Asia between the end of the nineteenth century and the present day. Students will acquire the tools to analyse different forms of interaction and interdependence emerging over time through a comparative approach that will mainly focus on Northeast Asia (China, the Korean peninsula, and Japan). However, the course will shed some light on the dynamics of US-China-Southeast Asia relations. While observing the elements of continuity that have been the hallmarks of the regional order for decades - e.g. the US military presence and the 'hub-and-spokes' alliance system; the division of the Korean peninsula and the stalemate between the two Koreas; nationalism; territorial and maritime disputes; the Taiwan issue; the rivalry between China and Japan - students will be confronted with more recent changes that affect relations both between regional states and within societies with serious repercussions on economic stability and prosperity. These include the re-emergence of China as a central power and the current strategic competition with the United States; initiatives of regional integration; the role of soft power and public diplomacy; and 'non-traditional' security concerns.

Upon completion of this course, students will be expected to:

- have a sound knowledge of the history of contemporary East Asia, and adopt a critical approach to address the most relevant historical and political developments in the region
- be able to discuss issues related to historical memory in East Asia and their influence on contemporary societies, politics, and cultural relations
- examine case studies using a mix of sources (monographs, articles, digital resources) and relevant literature
- adequately present and discuss some of the key features of relations between nation-states as well as regional and cross-cutting issues

Prior knowledge of the global contemporary history and the history of contemporary East Asia.

Weeks 1-4: Introduction to the course; the rise of Japan and the Pacific War; the role of the Korean Peninsula in the regional system of international relations, the process of democratisation and democratic consolidation in South Korea, the political-ideological foundations of the North Korean regime and the problem of economic reforms, foreign policy strategies of the two Koreas and the development of inter-Korean relations.
Weeks 5-9: The role of Japan and China in global economic assets and their strategic visions of security and defense; territorial and maritime disputes.
Weeks 10-13: The evolution of US engagement in East Asia; Southeast Asia in the strategic competition between China and the United States; the EU and the Indo-Pacific; the role of supply chains in patterns of inter-state conflict and cooperation.

Textbooks:
- Caroli, R.; Gatti, F. (2017) Storia del Giappone, Laterza (chapters 5-9), Roma e Bari: Laterza
- Fiori, A. (2010) L' Asia orientale. Dal 1945 ai giorni nostri, Bologna: Il Mulino.
- Samarani, G.; Graziani, S. (2023) La Cina rossa: Storia del Partito comunista cinese, Bari: Laterza
- Zappa, M. (2020) Il Giappone nel sistema internazionale: Asia orientale e sudorientale nella politica estera giapponese dal 1945 all'era Abe, Venezia: Libreria Editrice Cafoscarina.

Further readings will be presented during the lectures and made available on Moodle.

The final exam will consist of an oral discussion aimed at assessing the student’s knowledge of the course material (textbooks, articles, presentations) as well as his/her ability to communicate clearly and effectively and to make appropriate use of historical terminology.

The course includes a combination of lectures and seminars and will require the active participation of students who will contribute to the seminar discussions with comments and informed observations on the reading material. In addition, scholars from Italy (in person) and Asia (virtual) might be invited to deliver guest lectures.

Italian

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development