7AAYM213 The Political Economy of China and East Asia
Credit value: 20 credits
Module tutor: Dr Ramon Pacheco Pardo
Assessment: Oral presentation (15%); 4,000 word essay (85%)
Teaching pattern: 1 x 2hr weekly seminar
Module description
East Asia is one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world. A mixture of developed, emerging and developing countries offer a vibrant and complex economic environment. China, the world’s second biggest economy, is at the centre of this dynamism. This module addresses the political and economic factors behind developments in the economy of East Asia, with particular attention to the issue-areas of trade and money and finance, as well as to the central role played by China. Particular attention will be given to the evolution of East Asia’s political economy since the Chinese economic reforms of the late 1970s and the collapse of communism in the early 1990s. Special emphasis will also be put on the role that the Chinese and East Asian economies play in the international economic system, as well as on the politico-economic relationship between East Asia and the United States and the European Union.
Module aims
The aim of this module is for students to understand and evaluate the evolution and current state of the political economy of China and East Asia. Students will learn about the development of trade and monetary and financial flows in the region. The module also aims to explain the economic evolution of developed and emerging countries in East Asia. Finally, the module will examine the position of East Asian countries in the global economy.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to:
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demonstrate a knowledge of the political economy of East Asia;
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demonstrate a knowledge of trade and monetary and financial policies and flows in East Asia;
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demonstrate a knowledge of the political economy of China, Japan and other developed and emerging countries in East Asia;
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understand how East Asia’s political economy has evolved after World War II, and especially following the collapse of communism;
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understand the role that China plays in worldwide and regional economic dynamics;
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evaluate the scope, delivery and limitations of the economic policies of China, Japan, and selected developed and emerging countries in East Asia;
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work cooperatively with others to analyze, understand and explain key aspects of China’s and East Asia’s political economy.
Primary texts
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Beeson, Mark, Regionalism and Globalization in East Asia: Politics, Security and Economic Development (New York NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007).
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Cai, Kevin G., The Political Economy of East Asia: Regional and National Dimensions (New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008).
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Greenaway, David, Chris Milner and Shujie Yao, China and the World Economy (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010).
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Wan, Ming, The Political Economy of East Asia: Striving for Wealth and Power (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2008).