PLS 352 email:
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PURPOSE OF THE COURSE The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the government and politics of China, Japan, and Indonesia. The course will examine the modern historical background that has shaped these countries. It will analyze the influence of imperialism, reform, modernization and revolution in China and Japan and the impact of the Japanese occupation on the independence movement in Indonesia. The course will trace the rise of the Chinese Communist Party and rise of the military in Japan in the 1930’s. We will examine the influence of political culture and political values on the functioning of these systems. We will also discuss the nature of political structures of China, Japan and Indonesia, the role of the Communist Party in China, and the functioning of political parties and elections in Japan and Indonesia. An understanding the processes of political change is crucial to an examination of these political system. In this regard, we will examine the Cultural Revolution in China, the dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan, and the impact of the GESTAPU (the September 30th Movement) in Indonesia. The course will explain the process of economic development and modernization in these countries with particular attention devoted to an explanation of economic reform in China under Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, the post-war Japanese economic miracle, and the period of growth and decline under Suharto’s New Order. The course will conclude by examining a range of social and demographic problems in these countries. It will attempt to explain the foreign policy orientation of China with particular emphasis on the integration of Hong Kong and Macau into the Chinese political system, China’s relationship with Taiwan and Tibet, and China’s relationship with the US, USSR and the rest of Asia. The US-Japanese Security Treaty, problems of US-Japanese foreign trade, and other issues will be explored. The fundamentals of Indonesia’s foreign relations with the US, China, and Southeast Asia will also be covered. COURSE REQUIREMENTS This course will be primarily a lecture course with discussion strongly encouraged. The instructor expects students to keep up with the reading so they will be able to participate more actively in these discussions. The instructor will use a variety of AV tapes to highlight various aspects of this course. The AV tapes are an integral part of the course, not entertainment. Students should be prepared to take notes on these topics. GRADING POLICY There will be FOUR EXAMINATIONS required of all students in this course. Each examination will count 20% of you total grade. Class participation and class discussion will count for the remaining 20% of the final grade.
EXAMINATIONS The examination for this course will consist of broad essay questions drawn from the lectures and textbooks. A study guide for each examination will be provided by the instructor to help focus your study. Students will also be expected to answer short identification questions focusing on the major personalities, historical events, and concepts of the course. ATTENDANCE I consider attendance to be an important part of this course. Excessive absences will be penalized. Students who miss more than 3 classes for any reason will be penalized one letter grade. COURSE
ACCOMMODATIONS REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS (TS) Tony
Saich. Governance and Politics of China. (DM)
Duncan McCargo.
Contemporary Japan. St. Martin's Press. 2nd ed.
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