CONTEMPORARY EASTERN ASIA

The course examines the main historical, political, and institutional processes that have shaped East Asia from the end of the Second World War to the contemporary period (major developments prior to 1945 will be discussed where necessary to provide context for the dynamics addressed in the course). Through a historical and comparative perspective, students will acquire the conceptual and methodological tools needed to understand the formation of the post-war regional order, its evolution during the Cold War, and the transformations that have reshaped the balance of power in East Asia within the contemporary international system.

Particular attention will be devoted to the evolution of relations among the region’s main actors - China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan - the role of the United States in the construction of the regional security architecture, and the processes that have contributed to redefining the balance of power in East Asia - including the rise of the People’s Republic of China, strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, and emerging dimensions of security. The course will also examine the transformation of the political and institutional systems of the region’s major countries, with particular attention to processes of democratization, the nature of political regimes, and the relationship between domestic dynamics and international projection.

Finally, the course will consider the role of institutions, diplomacy, and the international projection strategies of East Asian countries, examining soft power and institutional communication as tools through which regional actors construct and legitimize their role both within the region and in the broader international arena.

Upon completion of this course, students will have acquired advanced knowledge of the main historical, political, and institutional processes that have shaped the evolution of East Asia from the end of the Second World War to the contemporary period. They will therefore be able to critically understand the dynamics that contributed to the formation and transformation of the regional order, relating the main contemporary political, economic, and social issues to the historical processes from which they originated. Students will also develop the ability to use the specialist terminology of the discipline appropriately and to produce independent analyses through critical engagement with the academic literature and relevant sources.

A basic knowledge of the modern and contemporary history of East Asia and of the main concepts in the history of International Relations.

Lessons 1–5: The construction of the post-war regional order: the American occupation of Japan and the Cold War in East Asia; the Korean War and the division of the Korean Peninsula; the Chinese Civil War and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China; the retreat of the Nationalist government and Taiwan in the context of the Cold War.

Lessons 6–10: The political and institutional evolution of the People’s Republic of China; the reshaping of the international status of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China in the 1970s, the expulsion of the Republic of China from the United Nations, and the Shanghai Communiqué; Japan’s economic miracle and its role as a regional actor; the democratization of South Korea and Taiwan; the end of the Cold War and the redefinition of the regional order and of the international role of the region’s main actors.

Lessons 11–15: China’s economic and political rise, the BRI, and the new regional order; Lee Teng-hui’s pragmatic diplomacy and Taiwan’s international projection; Japan’s role in the Indo-Pacific and the FOIP; diplomacy, soft power, and institutional communication as instruments of foreign policy.

- Caroli, R., Gatti, F. Storia del Giappone, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2017.
- Frattolillo, O. Il Giappone tra Est e Ovest. La ricerca di un ruolo internazionale nell’era bipolare, Roma, Franco Angeli, 2021.
- Karl, R. E. China’s Revolutions in the Modern World: A Brief Interpretative History, Londra e New York, Verso, 2020.
- Onnis, B., Congiu, A. Fino all’ultimo Stato. La battaglia diplomatica tra Cina e Taiwan, Roma, Carocci, 2022.
- Samarani, G. La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell’Impero a oggi, Torino: Einaudi, 2017.
- Zappa, M. Il Giappone nel sistema internazionale. Asia orientale e sudorientale nella politica estera giapponese dal 1945 all’era Abe, Venezia, Libreria Editrice Cafoscarina, 2020.

Any additional readings and materials will be indicated and made available during the course in relation to the topics covered.

Assessment of the knowledge and skills acquired will take place through an individual oral examination, aimed at evaluating students’ knowledge of the topics covered during the course, their ability to contextualize and critically analyse the main historical, political, and institutional processes of contemporary East Asia, and their ability to relate contemporary dynamics to the historical processes that shaped their development. Students will also be assessed on clarity and appropriateness of language, correct use of specialist terminology, and the ability to develop independent and critically grounded arguments.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

The minimum passing grade is 18/30, while the highest grade is 30 cum laude.

Grades will be awarded according to the following criteria:

A. 18–21: sufficient knowledge of the topics covered during the course and a basic ability to analyse, synthesise, and critically rework the material.

B. 22–25: fair knowledge of the topics covered during the course and a fair ability to analyse, synthesise, and critically rework the material.

C. 26–28: good knowledge of the topics covered during the course, combined with a good ability to analyse, synthesise, and explore the topics in greater depth.

D. 29–30: excellent knowledge of the topics covered during the course, combined with a solid ability to analyse, synthesise, explore the topics in depth, and critically rework the material.

E. 30 cum laude: a grade of 30 cum laude will be awarded when - in addition to meeting the criteria for the 29–30 range - the student demonstrates particularly well-developed critical skills, full autonomy in reworking the material, and, where applicable, the ability to explore the topics independently and establish original and relevant connections.

The course will use an interactive teaching approach, combining lectures with the analysis of case studies and selected readings from the academic literature. Active student participation will be encouraged through critical discussion of the main topics covered.

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