International relations of east asia
A.A. 2023/2024
Obiettivi formativi
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the security dimension of China's rise. While much of the public debate on China and security revolves around Beijing's expanding military capabilities, the security dimension of China's rise is in fact a more complex and multi-faceted phenomenon: it involves both China's domestic politics and its foreign policy, and is closely intertwined to other dimensions of China's rise (diplomacy, foreign trade, soft power etc.). By focusing on the security dimension, the course will then address a set of issues that are crucial for China's rise and its implications for East Asia. This will help students to familiarize with the key political and strategic dynamics of the East Asian regional arena, thus contributing to the learning objectives of the Master's programme in International Relations (curricula "International Politics and Regional Dynamics" and "International Cooperation and Human Rights").
Risultati apprendimento attesi
By the end of the course, students will have acquired the basic theoretical tools for the study of China's rise and its security dimension (theories of civil-military relations, military doctrine, use of force etc.). They will be able to apply such tools to the analysis of the complex political and strategic issues raised by China's rise in East Asia and beyond. In addition, students will have further refined soft skills coherent with the wider objectives of the Master's programme: they will have further familiarized with the special language of International Relations theory, improved their capability to engage with different types of field-specific texts (academic articles, policy papers, official documents etc.), and developed their ability to critically discuss complex political and strategic issues.
Periodo: Terzo trimestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Terzo trimestre
Programma
ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course is composed of two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit will focus on civil-military relations in contemporary China: we will analyse how party-army relations evolved throughout the history of the People's Republic of China, with a focus on the role that the military plays in Chinese politics today and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process. The second unit will turn to China's military doctrine and to the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy: we will discuss doctrinal developments and analyse some examples of PLA operations, including naval operations in support of China's maritime claims and participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course is composed of an introduction on China's foreign policy since 1949 (book 1) and by two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit is focused on civil-military relations in contemporary China, and particularly on the evolution of party-army relations and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process (papers 1 to 4). The second unit is focused on the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy (paper 5 and book 2).
The course is composed of two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit will focus on civil-military relations in contemporary China: we will analyse how party-army relations evolved throughout the history of the People's Republic of China, with a focus on the role that the military plays in Chinese politics today and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process. The second unit will turn to China's military doctrine and to the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy: we will discuss doctrinal developments and analyse some examples of PLA operations, including naval operations in support of China's maritime claims and participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course is composed of an introduction on China's foreign policy since 1949 (book 1) and by two units that investigate on the security dimension of China's rise in its domestic and external components. The first unit is focused on civil-military relations in contemporary China, and particularly on the evolution of party-army relations and its impact on the foreign policy decision-making process (papers 1 to 4). The second unit is focused on the employment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China's foreign policy (paper 5 and book 2).
Prerequisiti
Although the course is open to all students, irrespective of their background, a preliminary knowledge of Contemporary History and International Relations Theory is assumed.
Metodi didattici
While the focus of the lectures is on China, attending students will be involved in the preparation of class presentations on other East Asian states, such as Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. Concepts and models introduced during the lectures to analyse the Chinese case will thus be applied to different cases. At the end of the course, the case-studies will be compared in a final discussion aimed at identifying trends in the East Asian region at large.
Materiale di riferimento
ATTENDING STUDENTS
Reading list for attending students:
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335.
4. Simone Dossi, "'Upholding the Correct Political Direction'. The PLA Reform and Civil-Military Relations in Xi Jinping's China", The International Spectator, Vol. 53, No. 3 (2018), pp. 118-131.
5. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
6. Michael D. Swaine, "The PLA Role in China's Foreign Policy and Crisis Behavior", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 141-165.
7. M. Taylor Fravel, "The PLA and National Security Decisionmaking: Insights from China's Territorial and Maritime Disputes", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 249-273.
8. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
9. M. Taylor Fravel, "Cooperation and Escalation in Territorial Disputes", in Id., Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), pp. 10-69.
10. Marc Lanteigne, "China's UN Peacekeeping in Mali and Comprehensive Diplomacy", The China Quarterly, Vol. 239 (2019), pp. 635-655.
11. Andrea Ghiselli, "Civil-Military Relations and Organisational Preferences Regarding the Use of the Military in Chinese Foreign Policy: Insights from the Debate on MOOTW", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2018), pp. 421-442.
12. Simone Dossi, "The EU, China, and Nontraditional Security: Prospects for Cooperation in the Mediterranean Region", Mediterranean Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2015), pp. 77-96.
Students who are not familiar with China's foreign policy since 1949 should read the following book for a background (it will not be part of the exam): Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Book 1: Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
Book 2: Please, choose one of these two books: M. Taylor Fravel, Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008); Andrea Ghiselli, Protecting China's Interests Overseas. Securitization and Foreign Policy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021).
Papers (available through UNIMI's digital library):
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335 (if the book is not available at the library, please send an email to [email protected]).
4. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
5. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
Reading list for attending students:
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335.
4. Simone Dossi, "'Upholding the Correct Political Direction'. The PLA Reform and Civil-Military Relations in Xi Jinping's China", The International Spectator, Vol. 53, No. 3 (2018), pp. 118-131.
5. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
6. Michael D. Swaine, "The PLA Role in China's Foreign Policy and Crisis Behavior", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 141-165.
7. M. Taylor Fravel, "The PLA and National Security Decisionmaking: Insights from China's Territorial and Maritime Disputes", in Phillip C. Saunders and Andrew Scobell (eds.), PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015), pp. 249-273.
8. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
9. M. Taylor Fravel, "Cooperation and Escalation in Territorial Disputes", in Id., Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), pp. 10-69.
10. Marc Lanteigne, "China's UN Peacekeeping in Mali and Comprehensive Diplomacy", The China Quarterly, Vol. 239 (2019), pp. 635-655.
11. Andrea Ghiselli, "Civil-Military Relations and Organisational Preferences Regarding the Use of the Military in Chinese Foreign Policy: Insights from the Debate on MOOTW", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2018), pp. 421-442.
12. Simone Dossi, "The EU, China, and Nontraditional Security: Prospects for Cooperation in the Mediterranean Region", Mediterranean Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2015), pp. 77-96.
Students who are not familiar with China's foreign policy since 1949 should read the following book for a background (it will not be part of the exam): Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Book 1: Chi-Kwan Mark, China and the World since 1945. An International History (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).
Book 2: Please, choose one of these two books: M. Taylor Fravel, Strong Borders, Secure Nation. Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008); Andrea Ghiselli, Protecting China's Interests Overseas. Securitization and Foreign Policy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021).
Papers (available through UNIMI's digital library):
1. Amos Perlmutter and William M. LeoGrande, "The Party in Uniform: Toward a Theory of Civil-Military Relations in Communist Political Systems", American Political Science Review, Vol. 76, No. 4 (1982), pp. 778-789.
2. Ellis Joffe, "Party-Army Relations in China: Retrospect and Prospect", The China Quarterly, No. 146 (1996), pp. 299-314.
3. James Mulvenon, "China: Conditional Compliance", in Muthiah Alagappa (ed.), Coercion and Governance. The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001), pp. 317-335 (if the book is not available at the library, please send an email to [email protected]).
4. Simone Dossi, "Explaining Military Change in China: Reintroducing Civilian Intervention", Journal of Contemporary China, No. 133 (2021), pp. 101-115.
5. M. Taylor Fravel, "Shifts in Warfare and Party Unity. Explaining China's Changes in Military Strategy", International Security, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2017-18), pp. 37-83.
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
For attending students, the final evaluation will be based on: (1) active participation during classes and the presentation of the assigned papers (30 percent of the final mark); and (2) a written exam at the end of the course (70 percent of the final mark). For non-attending students, the final evaluation will be based on a written exam.
Siti didattici
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Martedì dalle 14.30 alle 17.30 (in studio o via Teams), su appuntamento da fissare via mail.
Dipartimento di Studi internazionali, giuridici e storico-politici, via Conservatorio 7, I piano, stanza 8