Special Topics in Asian Studies University of Seoul International Summer School 2014 Weekdays 1 pm-4pm Location: TBA Dr. Keun Jung Lee Assistant Professor KIMEP University (Almaty, Kazakhstan) Research Associate London School of Economics (London, UK) [email protected] Office: TBA Office Hours: I will make myself available after class and by appointment Course Documents available on: UOS Club web site Overview of the Course An interdisciplinary introduction to Special Topics in Asian Studies, designed to expose students to the major peoples, cultures of Asia and economic environment in Asia. The course will introduce the East Asian cultural sphere (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore), the influence of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh), Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, etc) Students will be introduced to the major philosophical, religious, cultural characteristics and economic development of each region, with each example set in an appropriate historical economic context. Consideration will be given to the Asian experience in America and EU, and the role of Asia in the 21st century. The course is designed to introduce students to the broad field of Asian Studies. The course is cross-listed with History, Humanities and Economics. Course Text A Short History of Asia, by Colin Mason (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 second edition). Student Evaluation There are three assignments for this class: one presentation and one medium-length papers and one final exam. All of the assignments are due in class and unexcused late work will not be accepted. Plagiarizers will fail the entire course. Note that participation is a critical part of your grade. It entails being prepared for class and being engaged in class. Your grade will be calculated as follows: Participation 25% Presentation 25% Reaction Paper 25% Final Exam 25% Course Schedule: 1. Introduction to the Course. A Short History of Asia, by Colin Mason, Introduction, p1-21. 2. Asia’s Geography: The Lands of Asia. 3. East Asian Studies 3.1 The earliest phase of East Asian culture. Ancient China: Bronzes, Oracle Bones, Writing. Mason, China: The Eternal Nation, p45-60. 3.2 How to conceive of China’s long history. Dynastic Cycles, Emperors, Government 3.3China on the Move (I will talk about China’s rapid development in recent years, and will show China in 1976 and China today in order to compare the changes made) 3.4 Can Japan be an ‘Asian’ Power? 3.5 Economic performance of Vietnam, Hong kong and Singapore in Emerging Market 4. South and South East Asian Studies 4.1 Hinduism and Islam in India and Southeast Asia. Mason, Prehistory and the First Indian Civilization, p13-2; Early Southeast Asia: the Ships from India, p33-44. 4.2 In Donahue 219. Mason, The Development of Indian Culture: Hinduism and Buddhism, p22-32. 4.3 The Peoples of Southeast Asia. Mason, Indonesia: Sukarno and After, p216-231 ; Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, p232-24;, Thailand: Two Hats – The Struggle for Democracy, p254-260. 4.4 Asia in the World Today. Mason, The Philippines: Trouble in Paradise, p261-269 ; Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, p281-292 ; Burma: Rule by the Gun, p293-300 . 4.5 Economic development in South and South East Asia 4.6. Islamic Bank system 5. Central Asian Studies Is Central Asia Emerging Market? -More detailed in UOS Club web site 6. Final Exam