Postgraduate Course: East Asian Politics and International Relations (ASST11131)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course aims to introduce students to the politics and international relations of Korea and East Asia. It is divided into two parts. The first part offers an overview of the region, focusing on Korea and East Asia during the 20th and early 21st centuries. Key topics include state formation, regime types, evolving forms of social political participation, and different types of economic development models.
The second part explores developments in East Asian international politics since the end of the Cold War. It analyses the interactions between external and regional powers, as well as the foreign policies of the regions main actors. Special emphasis is placed on shifting global and regional order, strategies and tools of soft power, globalization/de-globalization, and the impact of recent trade conflicts, such as the US-China trade conflict. |
| Course description |
This course offers an introduction to the domestic and international politics of East Asia. The first section examines state-building processes, various regime types, and patterns of economic development, including the role of state-led growth and the impacts of the post-Asian financial crisis period. The second section explores the complex regional and global dynamics of East Asia, focusing on interactions among the two Koreas, China, Japan, and Taiwan, as well as their relationships with neighbouring countries in Asia. Key themes include global and regional order, supply chains, environmental challenges, and the role of multilateral actors such as ASEAN, the Asian Development Bank and the G20. The course also considers the influence of major external actors, particularly the United States.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Class participation and attendance 10% - Class participation includes active participation in discussion, presentation and Q&A assignments.
Mid-term assignment 40% (800 words) - Students can choose one type of assignment from various options of assignments, including video essays (2-3 group work possible, 1mins), policy briefs, blogs, Wikipedia entries (2-3 group work possible), podcasts (2-3 group work possible, 5mins), contrast two journal articles or editorials
Essay: 50% (3000 words)
Participation meets LO1,2,5
Midterm assignment meets LO1,2,3,4
Final essay meets LO1,2,3,4,5 |
| Feedback |
Students will receive general feedback on their presentation and weekly discussion in seminars.
Students will receive written feedback on their midterm assignment and final essay. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyse the domestic and international politics of East Asia with reference to contemporary scholarly debates
- Critically evaluate the cultural, historical, and theoretical contexts underpinning both historical and current developments in the region
- Critically assess a wide range of primary and secondary sources
- Develop and apply a conceptual and methodological toolkit suitable for Masters-level research and for progressing toward the MSc dissertation
- Assess and interpret the key conflictual and cooperative dynamics in East Asia, demonstrating an ability to engage with complex and competing perspectives
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Through this course, students will develop a range of transferable skills and attributes that extend beyond subject-specific knowledge.
Students at Level 11 will:
Demonstrate advanced critical thinking by analysing complex issues, engaging with competing arguments, and producing rigorous, research-informed work to Masters standards.
Exercise a high level of independent learning, taking responsibility for shaping their own inquiry, seeking out advanced academic resources, and applying feedback strategically.
Develop sophisticated research skills, including critical engagement with scholarly debates, effective use of academic databases, and the ability to evaluate and synthesise diverse sources.
Communicate with a high level of clarity and precision across written, oral, and digital formats, tailoring their work for academic, professional, and interdisciplinary audiences.
Demonstrate a well-developed global outlook, situating East Asian issues within wider international debates and reflecting on diverse perspectives with intellectual maturity.
Work effectively and respectfully within multicultural groups, showing leadership, reflective awareness, and adaptability.
Produce digital work that reflects professional standards, applying advanced creative, technical, and collaborative skills to develop high-quality digital outputs.
These attributes promote intellectual autonomy, advanced research competence, global citizenship, and digital fluency appropriate for postgraduate study and professional careers. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Youngmi Kim
Tel: (0131 6)51 1363
Email: youngmi.kim@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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