STV4234 – China's Rise and Asian Security
Course content
This course offers an analytical perspective on the strategic conditions of post-Cold War East Asia.
It examines the regional political structure, the strategic characteristics of the region’s great power relationship – U.S.-China relations – and the implications for the conflicts on the Korean peninsula, in the Taiwan Strait, and in the East and South China Seas, and the role of alliance relationships in regional diplomacy. A central theme is China's rise as a great power and how that power might be used in its relations with other states.
From these different perspectives, the course attempts to understand the sources of state behavior and prospects for regional stability and instability.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Students will acquire improved understanding and knowledge of
- Key concepts and perspectives in theories of international relations
- Geopolitical developments and global power shift: The emergence of an Asia-centered world and a shift from unipolarity to bipolarity or multipolarity. Regional security dynamics in East Asia, including the U.S., China, Japan and Russia. Particular attention will be given to China’s foreign policy, U.S. foreign policy towards East Asia, Japan’s security policy, and China-Russia relations
- China’s foreign policy and strategic thinking, how international and domestic factors drive Chinese foreign policy behavior, and the interplay between them
- Maritime strategies in East Asia, including the geopolitical friction that arises when the traditional land power China also seeks to become a leading sea Power.
Skills
Students will learn to
- Critically assess the significance of security dynamics in East Asia
- Be able to use basic concepts and perspectives in international relations theory and conduct independent and critical analyses of foreign policy and security policy behavior
- Develop their oral and written presentation skills of analyses that satisfy academic standards.
Competences
Students will
- Improve their knowledge and understanding of some of the major players in international politics
- enhance their competence for professional work in academic institutions, governmental bodies and corporations working with strategy, security studies, and East Asia, and international relations at large.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Apply for guest student status if you are admitted to another Master's programme.
For incoming students
All Master's courses in Political Science must be registered manually by the Department, they will not appear in Studentweb. Contact your international coordinator at UiO.
Teaching
Lectures.
Lectures are held during five weeks, with examination in the sixth week.
Examination
3-hour written examination and term paper.
The term paper must:
- be between 4000-5000 words.
- be on a topic related to the curriculum but selected by the student.
- meet the formal requirements for submission of written assignments
The term paper and the written examination are given about equal weight in the final grade. You receive one overall grade. You must pass the term paper and your written examination in the same semester.
Digital examination
The written examination is conducted in the digital examination system Inspera. You will need to familiarize yourself with the digital examination arrangements in Inspera.
Read more about written examinations using Inspera.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.