Security system in the Asia-Pacific Region 2104-ERASMUS-SSIA

1. Introduction. Concept of Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific.
2-3. The Asia-Pacific region – a description. The borders and territory of the Asia-Pacific region. The economic and cultural diversity of the Asia-Pacific region. The role of cultural and civilizational factors in the Asia-Pacific region. Democratization and human rights in Asia.
4. The security sub-system in South Asia. Main security threats in the South Asia region. The policy of India in the region after 1989. The Indian-Pakistani conflict. The nuclear threat. The role of the US in the South Asia region. Maritime conflicts in East and South-East Asia.
5. Economic models of development in Asia-Pacific. Economic cooperation in Asia-Pacific, role of regional powers. Ecological challenges in Asia-Pacific (pollution, climate change). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – role of China, India.
6. The Division of China (problem of Taiwan). Taiwan and China – the historical dimension. The status of Taiwan in international law. Trade relations between China and Taiwan. China’s policy towards Taiwan at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. The importance of internal factors in Taiwan for China-Taiwan relations. The Division of Korea. Origins of the division. Internal and external factors after the end of the Cold War regarding Korea. Dilemmas of national security of North and South Korea. Foreign powers and the Korean issue. The Korean problem – assessment and prospects for the future.
7. The role of India in the Asia-Pacific region. India in the South Asia and South-East Asia regions - towards partnership. The policy of Russia, Japan and India in the Asia-Pacific region during the Cold War. International and internal factors following the Cold War in the policy of India, Japan and Russia in the region. The Regional Strategy of China. Internal, regional and international factors in the foreign and security policy of China in the Asia-Pacific region after 1989. Determinants of China’s major-power status. The role and position of China in the Asia-Pacific region.
8. US Regional Strategy. The activity of the US in the Asia-Pacific region – circumstances and factors. The new US approach to the region since 1989. US reaction to conflicts in Asia. The strategy of engagement. Economic activity of US. The role of the US in the region – an assessment.
9. Classification and systemization of security threats in the region. Security factors in the Asia-Pacific region. The modernization of military forces in the region. The Arms Race in the region. International arms control regimes in the region. Territorial disputes. Divisions of states. The economic dimension of security. Terrorism and security in the region. Economic Security in the region. Sea Lines of communications and energy security.
10. The Importance of the Asia-Pacific Region in International Relations at the Turn of the 21st Century. International relations in the region – assessment and prospects for the future. Rivalry between powers in the region. Asia and globalization. The identity of Asian powers.

Term 2023Z:

None

Term 2024Z:

None

Prerequisites (description)

(in Polish) Asia and the Pacific Region became the center of world politics in the 21st century with the biggest number of emerging superpowers like China and India, and the fastest political and economic regional fora and organisations - ASEAN Community, SCO, RCEP. At the same time security systemin the region is extremely fragmented and the rivalry between regional and extra-regional powers is growing. The longest wars in Afghanistan, Korean Peninsula or between Russia and Japan have not ended yet. The conflict in the South China Sea has the biggest number of actors, involving the USA and the EU. The main aim of the course would be to explain the roots of existing situation and its key determinants.

Course coordinators

Tomasz Łukaszuk

Type of course

optional courses

Mode

Classroom

Assessment criteria

final test - ten opne questions

Bibliography

1. H.E.S. Nesadura (ed), Globalisation and Economic Security in East Asia: Governance and Institutions, London and New York 2006
2. M. Alagappa (ed), Asian Security Practise, Stanford 1998
3. G.J. Ikenberry, M. Mastanduno (eds), International Relations Theory and the Asia-Pacific, New York 2003
4. Jakub Zajączkowski, India’s Position in International Relations at the Turn of the Century, „Acta Asiatica Varsoviensia”, Warszawa 2005, PAN, p. 105-122
5. S.S. Tan, A. Acharya (eds.), Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation: National Interests and Regional Order, New York 2004
6. D.W. Lovell, Asia-Pacific Security: Policy Challenges, 2003
7. Baldev Raj Nayar, T.V. Paul, India in the World Order. Searching for Major-Power Status, Cambridge 2003
8. M. Beeson (ed), Bush and Asia: America’s Evolving Relations with East Asia, London and New York 2006
9. O. Russel, China’s Security Interests in the 21st Century, London and New York 2007
10. B. Williams, A. Newman (eds.), Japan, Australia and Asia-Pacific Security, London and New York 2006
11. Amit Gupta, The U.S.–India Strategic Relationship: Strategic Partnership or Complementary Interests?, February 2005, URL – www.carlise.army.mil
12. Selected articles from: ‘Washington Quarterly’, ‘International Relations of Asia-Pacific’, ‘Foreign Affairs’
13. B. Kratiuk, J. Van den Bosch, A. Jaskólska, Y. Sato (red.) "Handbook of Indo-Pacific Studies", Routledge India, 2023 (free access in internet)

Term 2023Z:

None

Term 2024Z:

None

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2104-ERASMUS-SSIA in USOSweb