Syllabus
Course Description and Objectives: There is rapidly growing economic and consequently political importance of the East Asia in the modern era, especially after the World War II, even while comparing with all other world regions. Nonetheless, the East Asian region is not known so profoundly in the West including Europe as it would deserve. All regional countries have gone through various social, economic and political changes, which have been influenced by both internal and external factors. As the main factors we have to especially remark their traditional cultural basements, their colonial heritage from the 19th and 20th century and the influence of the outside world powers coming from West (USA, United Kingdom, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Germany), East (Russia - Soviet Union - Russian Federation) and its own regional powers (Japan and China). It is also important to realize that these influences still play a great role in their actual political systems. It must be expected that these factors remain important even if we look at the actual political systems of these countries. If we compare East Asia and Europe, almost the whole Europe has, moretheless, democratic political systems but this cannot be so widely said about the East Asian countries. On the other side, a growing number of East Asian countries have newly established democratic political systems as well. This approach of governance does not seem to be traditional in East Asia and sometimes they are even ceased like recently in the Philippines. What are the main, decisive differences between on "East Asian" vs. "Euro-American" political systems regardless to their level of democracy? Even these questions should be answered in this course. There are very different political systems applied in nowadays East Asian countries. Even more, we can meet with many internal differences in one country (PR China). Nevertheless, we may try to distinguish some types of political systems in the East Asian region, namely those democratically governed (Mongolia, RO Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Papua-New Guinea, Australia), non-democratic political systems (Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar/Burma) and others (absolutist monarchy in Brunei, democratic system with elected federal monarchy - Malaysia, new fragile democracy - Indonesia, interrupted democracy after military coup - Thailand) and rather pseudo-democracy in Singapore. The main aim of the course is to provide an overview of the East Asian political systems in the 20th and already commenced 21st century. It is necessary to realize that it is not enough to know basic facts about the relevant countries (population, economy, ethnicity, religions, history etc.). The modern history of these countries has mostly changed them in many ways, as the main factors can be mentioned, i.e. the colonial era, World War I and II, Communist, Liberalist and other ideologies, the Cold War and others. Also their own deeper historical background plays its role. In the first part of the course, the overall historical, political and economic development of this region and the main actors will be presented. Also traditional and new, mostly imported political approaches implemented in East Asia will be briefly presented. Second and major part will, step by step, focus on all countries of the region, namely China (incl. Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao), Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, East Timor and Papua - New Guinea. In the last part of the course we will try to make general conclusions on the actual development and possible future trends, which may occure in this region and we will also try to make some general comparison of this region with other world regions (Europe, America, Africa, CIS states, South Asia, Middle East). In this course, students should gain more than a basic overview on all these countries, their origin, contemporary developments, past and present political systems. Students will also actively participate in analyzing all the existing political systems in this region even in comparison with other world regions by means of contributions (presentations/papers). Students will be also obliged to present their own findings while using the lower mentioned recommended literature. Credits will be given on the basis of a presented paper on a selected and approved topic from the given list, a delivered essay on one of the mentioned issues and/or countries and on passed written exam. COURSE SCHEDULE
1) Introduction to the course, requirements, literature, discussing seminar topics East Asia: its importance yesterday, today, tomorrow, Political and economic situation, the most important and troubled countries in East Asia, relations with other world regions. In the initial lesson, the method used for leading the course will be presented, the students' possibilities and duties will be stated as well (esp. examination duties). Besides these, there will be a discussion on the chosen method (eventually modified) and the topics of the lessons. The way of working with the mentioned literature will be explained.
2) General overview of the East Asian region - historical development in the last more than 100 years Imperial China, colonial era in the East Asia, imperial Japan and the World War I and II, Western ideologies as Democracy, Socialism, Communism, Capitalism, indigenous and new religions in East Asia and their role, new East Asian rulers after WW II, new countries, disappeared or reappeared countries, their actual relations, international governmental and important non-governmental organizations (ASEAN, APEC, SEATO, ANZUS, WTO, UN etc.) and their roles in the region.
3) China, Tibet China under emperors, nationalistic revolutions and colonial powers including USA, Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-Shek and Guo Min Tang (KMT) party, Mao Ze Dong, Communism and Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Deng Xiao-Ping and Five modernisations, Chinese and non-Chinese nations in China, autonomous regions, Chinese political future.
4) Taiwan, Hong-Kong, Macao Three small Chinas, two in a big China, one outside the big China. Historical origins of 3 small Chinas, "One country, two systems" principle = Democracies under autocratic rule paradox, Threat of de-democratisation, Taiwanese vs. Chinese identity: origins and reasons for changing from Chinese Taiwan to Taiwan.
5) North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia Koreas - Traditional Korean political regime, Chinese, Russian and Japanese rule until the end of the World War II, North Korea under Communism and South Korea "under" USA, Korean War 1950-1953, Korean independence, autocratic rulers, army, students, economic development, democratic system until today, re-unification factor. Mongolia - ex-socialist buffer state, "real" independence, democratisation after 1989, current development: its balanced role between China and Russia.
6) Burma, Thailand Burma under British rule, Japanese threat, After WW II development, Communism, military coups, military govenrment, Aun San Su Ji, possibilty of democratisation in Burma, ethnic comflicts and their settlement, role of the army in democracy. Thailand, the only non-colonised country in the East Indian penninsula, Kingdom and a role of the king, Democracy, role of the army and military coups. Comparison of Burma and Thailand in their social and economic development.
7) Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Countries under French rule, decolonisation, role of China, France, USA and USSR in the region, Vietnam war(s), the main political parties and politicians in Vietnam (Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, Ngô Dinh Diem, Nguyen Văn Thieu, Tran Văn Huong), Cambodia (Pol Pot, King Norodom Sihamoni), and Laos (Khamtai Siphadon, Bouasone Bouphavanh). Communist Laos and Vietnam, democratic Cambodia. Future development of this region, democratisation.
8) Indonesia Multiethnic, multireligious country. Indonesia under Dutch rule, after WW II development, way to independence. Main political parties and politicians (Sukarno, Haji Mohammad Soeharto, Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Soekarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono), Chinese and Communists, ethnic and religious separatists (Aceh, Papua etc.), 1999 East Timor liberalisation, islamic terrorism, role of the army, 1998/1999 democratisation, new presidents.
9) The Philippines, Malaysia, The Phillippines under Spanish (until
1898) and American (until
1946) rule, religious differences of north and south (islamic Mindanao island), role of the army, US army bases, catholicism, political instability in 50s to 70s, politicians-presidents (Ferdinand Marcos, Benigno "Ninoy" Simeón Aquino, Jr., Maria Corazon Aquino, Fidel Valdez Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) and their political parties. Malaysia under British rule, gaining independence (1948), federation of 13 states in 1 penninsula and 1 island, having 9 sultans, with elected king, Westminster political democratic system in Malayan practice. Ethnically (Malayan, Chinese, Indians) and religiously very diversified country. Political parties and politicians (Barisan Nasional-UMNO, their 5 prime ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman, Abdul Razak, Hussein Onn, Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Badawi)
10) Brunei, Singapore, East Timor 3 small countries between the big countries. Brunei - small independent and rich sultanate in Malaysia, absolute oil monarchy, Singapore - small "Chinese democratic" city in the middle of all Asian sea routes, East Timor - small Portuguese colony, independent, occupied by Indonesia, again independent (Australian support).
11) Australia, Papua - New Guinea Another Asia? Indpendent Australia since 1901, country of former prisoners, old (British, Irishmen, Italians) and new ethnic communities (Chinese, Vietnamese), Aborigines. Westminster federative democracy, close ti
Annotation
Do you want to improve your knowledge regarding the modern East Asia? May be you would be interested in a new course, in which you get a consolidated information on the contemporary development of this most rapidly growing region in the World. In the course, you will gain the most important information on all countries in the region, particularly People's Republic of China (PRC), Republic of China alias Taiwan (ROC), Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong and Macao, Japan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, East Timor and Papua - New Guinea. The focus will be held on political systems and regimes held in these countries, their role in the region and/or world, their similarities to the so called Western countries, their political and cultural roots. The first half of the course will be led by Mr. Martin Petrtýl, a post-gradual student of political sciences who focuses on China and its actual and future role in East Asia and the World. The second half will be offered to students in order to present their own findings and views on particular countries and/or issues.
Unfortunately there is a limited number of possible participants, therefore there can be up to 30 participants, nonetheless do not mind to at least check the course.
WHEN: since 8trh October 2010 at 9:30 a.m. and then each second Friday until 17th December plus on 10th December 2010.
WHERE: Jinonice, building B, room J 4020