Faculty
Peter Lund-Thomsen, Peter Wad, Michael Jacobsen

Course Coordinator
Peter Wad

It is an advantage if the students have basic knowledge on economics.

Lectures, class discussions, student presentations, etc.

Main category of the course: The course will provide a comprehensive understanding of the political-economic relations within and between the Japanese, Chinese and other East Asian economies, and analyse the drivers and outcomes of political-economic regionalisation within the context of increasing globalisation.

Subcategories of the course: The course examines the remarkable rise of the East Asian region and its present position in the global economy. This includes an understanding of regional trade, investment and business linkages between Japan, China and other Asian economies and businesses as well as the political institutions governing this development. Japan and China are the main economic powers in the region and a central theme in the course is the impact of the Japanese political economy on the Asian region and how the Japanese economic ‘hegemony’ has been challenged by the rise and internationalisation of the Chinese market economy and by other domestic, regional and global changes. Furthermore, it examines what sets various Asian business systems apart and how practices of the dominant business systems influence regional economy.

The students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

· describe recent trends and dynamics of the regional political-economic integration and disintegration of the (East) Asian economies.

· analyze these regional trends and dynamics as an effect of the interaction between diverse political-economic systems and agencies in the region on the one hand and the impact of globalization on the other hand.

· explain these patterns and changes in terms of theories of regional integration and disintegration of political, economic and business systems.

The students are to hand in an essay based on a research issue rooted firmly in the obligatory course literature and reflecting all the three learning objectives of the course.

Pempel, T.J. (ed) (2005) Remapping East Asia. The Construction of a Region, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

A compendium of supplemental readings will be available in the bookstore