Nov 23, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25

POLS 4440 - East Asia in World Politics


The course examines the evolution of East Asia in world politics in the post-WWII era, including both the historical antecedents and alternative theoretical perspectives, as well as a variety of contemporary, political, economic, and security issues related to this region. The course draws on a wide range of material representing the diverse views of East Asian scholars, political leaders, and activists who offer a non-western perspective on East Asian politics.

Requisites: 6 hours in POLS or (Jr or Sr)
Credit Hours: 3
OHIO BRICKS: Bridge: Diversity and Practice, Capstone: Capstone or Culminating Experience
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will be able to describe and consider political, cultural, and economic issues and challenges of different countries in East Asia from WWII to the present and describe the complexities of the historical and social situation.
  • Students will be able to use appropriate language and format to present a clear position or thesis on social, economic, and political change in East Asia.
  • Students will be able to use theories of comparative politics and international relations and a variety of information sources to analyze and explain political outcomes in East Asia.
  • Students will be able to discuss how East Asian scholars, political leaders, and activists frame and debate their history and contemporary international relations from a non-western perspective and describe the role of assumption and context.
  • Students will be able to analyze social, economic, and political events in East Asia using prior experience, skills, and knowledge from other disciplines.
  • Students will be able to interpret intercultural encounters and conflicts from both Western perspectives and East Asian perspectives and act in a supportive manner that recognizes the feelings of East Asian cultural groups.
  • Students will be able to articulate insights about their own cultural rules and biases by examining similarities and differences with East Asian cultures.
  • Students will be able to recognize cultural differences between Western and East Asian cultures in verbal and non-verbal communication and negotiate a shared understanding.
  • Students will be able to ask complex questions about East Asian cultures and to articulate answers to these questions that reflect multiple cultural perspectives.
  • Students will be able to initiate and develop interactions with culturally different people from East Asia while suspending judgment.


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