Geopolitics, Economy and Environment
Code: 44259 ECTS Credits: 10| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4317118 Global East Asian Studies | OB | 0 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- David Saurí Pujol
- Email:
- David.Sauri@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
Other comments on languages
Part of the module will be taught in English.Teachers
- Minkang Zhou Gu
- Joaquín Beltrán Antolín
- Jacint Soler Matutes
- Gustavo Pita Céspedes
- Just Castillo Iglesias
Prerequisites
None.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The Module 2 "Geopolitics, Economics and the Environment" is a compulsory module of 10 ECTS that focuses on the study of the geopolitical, socio-economic and environmental dynamics characteristic of East Asia in their interrelations with the rest of the world. The study of these dynamics will be approached from an integrated perspective that highlights the global relevance of East Asia in social, political, economic and environmental terms. The module consists of three parts: 1) Geopolitics; 2) Economic structures and flows; and 3) Environmental challenges.
Competences
- Apply advanced theoretical concepts and analytical techniques to study interactions between population dynamics, political and economic change and environmental change.
- Apply the paradigms and theoretical trends in the study of sociocultural and political and economic changes which, with East Asia as a principal actor, are taking place on a global scale.
- Critically analyse the socioeconomic and environmental impact of human displacement on different scales, especially in the case of global tourism, addressing the complexity of its management in specific situations.
- Describe critically and originally the pre-eminence of East Asia in current dynamics of global change and their geopolitical, socio-economic and environmental consequences.
- Knowledge and understanding that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.
- Reflect and argue critically on the basis of analysis and synthesis within the methodologies and theoretical approaches of the specialist area.
- Select and apply theoretical and conceptual tools and specific resources to formulate expert knowledge on geopolitical changes, socioeconomic structures and flows and the environmental changes that are involved in the global incorporation of East Asia.
- That students have the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
- That the students can apply their knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
- Work individually and in teams in interdisciplinary and multicultural environments.
Learning Outcomes
- Acquire basic knowledge of East Asia's main environmental problem areas , particularly regarding climate change and natural and technological risk.
- Analyse the interactions between population dynamics, political and economic transformations and environmental changes related to East Asia.
- Apply the basic concepts of geopolitics from a critical perspective, to study transformations in the territory of East Asia, especially the growing role of China as a global power.
- Critically analyse the cultural and creative pre-eminence of East Asia in the contemporary world.
- Evaluate the socioeconomic and environmental impact of the human displacement taking place in East Asia.
- Evaluate the worldwide consequences of the geopolitical, socioeconomic and environmental dynamics deriving from East Asia's involvement in globalisation.
- Explain East Asia's world-power status regarding global-scale inward and outward tourism flows.
- Identify and apply theoretical concepts and innovative analysis techniques to study population dynamics, political and economic transformations and environmental changes related to East Asia.
- Identify and interpret the main geopolitical, socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of East Asia's role in ongoing processes of globalisation.
- Identify, describe and analyse the main economic flows seen in East Asia and their impact on the rest of the world.
- Identify, describe and analyse the new geopolitical, socioeconomic and environmental interactions emerging inside and outside East Asia.
- Knowledge and understanding that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.
- Recognise and competently use paradigms and theoretical currents to explain the geopolitical, socioeconomic and environmental transformations that are taking place globally with East Asia as a protagonist.
- Reflect and argue critically on the basis of analysis and synthesis within the methodologies and theoretical approaches of the specialist area.
- That students have the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
- That the students can apply their knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
- Work individually and in teams in interdisciplinary and multicultural areas of work.
Content
The module focuses on the study of the geopolitical, socioeconomic and environmental dynamics characteristic of East Asia in their interrelationships with the rest of the world. The study of these dynamics will be approached from an integrated perspective that emphasizes the global relevance of East Asia in social, political, economic and environmental terms. The contents of the module are:
1. Geopolitics:
- Imperial pasts and colonial impositions.
- The conflicts of the Korean War and the Vietnam War, the division of North/South Korea and China/Taiwan, the legacy of the Cold War.
- North American military bases in the region.
- The new regionalisms and the redefinition of the global political order.
- The “Belt and Route Initiave" (China) and the “Indo-Pacific Strategy” (Japan).
- Cybersecurity, new technologies and global driving forces in East Asia.
- The struggle for oceanic resources (sea routes, fishing, hydrocarbons).
- The role of the army.
- International civil society and NGOs.
2. Socio-economic structures and flows:
- Introduction to economics in East Asia
- Differentiated economic developments: socialism vs capitalism.
- Transformation of socio-economic structures: population changes, urbanization processes, displacements and internal/international migrations.
- Markets and consumption: the construction of an economic community in Asia.
- East Asia in the world: the global trade and investment flows.
3. Environmental challenges:
- Introduction: ideas about nature and the environment in East Asia.
- Experiences of water management in East Asia of global relevance.
- Global implications of climatechange in East Asia.
- Natural disaster management in East Asia: global influences.
- The global dimensions of environmental health in East Asia.
The module integrates the theoretical and conceptual contributions of disciplines such as Political Science and International Relations, Geopolitics and Economics, and Geography and Environmental Sciences.
Methodology
- Lectures
- Specialized Talks
- Paper writing
- Oral presentations and debates
- Readings
- Personal Study
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lectures, invited talks | 50 | 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 15, 7, 13, 14, 12, 17 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Oral defense of essays and debates | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 15, 7, 13, 14, 12, 17 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Paper writing, personal study, readings | 180 | 7.2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 15, 7, 13, 14, 12, 17 |
Assessment
The information on the evaluation, the type of evaluation activity and its weight on the final grade is provided for information purposes only. Instructors responsible for the different parts of the module will provide specific detail at the beginning of their teaching periods.
In case of irregularities (plagiarism, copying, identity fraud, etc.) in an evaluation activity, the grading of this activity will be 0. In case of irregularities in various evaluation activities, the final grade of the module will be 0.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in class and debates | 30% | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 15, 7, 13, 14, 12, 17 |
| Submission and oral defense of papers | 70% | 6 | 0.24 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 15, 7, 13, 14, 12, 17 |
Bibliography
At the beginning of the classes the instructors of the different parts of the module will provide specific bibliography for each topic.