Asia In World Politics
- Social Sciences
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 189 pages
- 18 units
This course examines international politics in Asia since World War II. It explores the relationships between the United States, China, and Japan in the Asia Pacific region. The course also examines nation-building challenges in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia. Additionally, it explores alliances during the Cold War era, non-alignment, and the influence of ASEAN on regional relationships and security.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 90 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of INR341, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
INR341 · UNIT 2: A SIMPLIFIED GUIDE TO ASIA
Since the 18th century Asia has been divided into several sub-regions independently defined from Asia as a whole. There have been no historical consensus and there is not now any universal consensus on the use of these terms, just as there is none for the word "Asia".
What you should be able to do
- Explain the nature of international politics in Asia since World War II
- Analyze the roles of key countries like Japan, Korea, and China in Asian and global politics
- Evaluate the impact of the Cold War on Asian nations
- Assess the influence of ASEAN on regional relationships and security
- Identify contemporary issues such as nationalism, arms race, territorial disputes, and terrorism in Asia
What it prepares you for
- Diplomat
- Political Analyst
- International Relations Specialist
- Policy Advisor
- Journalist
- Government and Diplomacy
- International Organizations
- Think Tanks
- Media and Journalism
- Academia
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: COLD WAR: ASIA AMID THE IDEOLOGICAL BLOCS
Unit 3: The Great Schism in World Communism
The unit requires understanding of complex ideological differences and historical events during the Cold War, demanding critical analysis.
- Module 5: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ASIAN AFFAIRS
Unit 1: Nationalism and Arms Race in Asia
The unit requires understanding of the complex interplay of nationalism, economic interests, and security concerns driving the arms race.
- Module 5: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ASIAN AFFAIRS
Unit 2: Territorial/Border Crises in Asia
The unit requires understanding of the complex interplay of geopolitical factors, resource competition, and environmental degradation that exacerbate territorial disputes.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: ASIA AT A GLANCE
Unit 1: State and Society in Ancient Asia · 2 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand the historical context of state and society in ancient Asia.. Identify the boundaries of Asia and discuss the challenges faced by early Asian societies.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 2Module 1: ASIA AT A GLANCE
Unit 2: A Simplified Guide to Asia · 2 hours
Study Unit 2: Learn about the different regions of Asia and their locations.. Identify the countries that make up each region.. Examine the maps and tables provided to understand the geographical outlook of Asia.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 3Module 1: ASIA AT A GLANCE
Unit 3: Asia in World War 2 · 2 hours
Study Unit 3: Examine the reasons behind Japanese aggression during World War II.. Narrate the prosecution of the war in Asia and the defeat of the Japanese.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 4Module 1: ASIA AT A GLANCE
Unit 4: Nature of International Politics in Asia since World War 2 · 2 hours
Study Unit 4: Discuss Asian society in the years following the end of World War II.. State the factors that shaped Asian politics of that era.. Account for the factors that led to the rise of authoritarianism.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 5Module 2: KEY PLAYERS IN ASIA
Unit 1: Japan in Asian and World Politics · 2 hours
Study Unit 1: Discuss Japanese history and its place in the international system.. Enumerate the reasons for the rise of Japan in the post-war period and its impact on global affairs.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 6Module 2: KEY PLAYERS IN ASIA
Unit 2: China in Asian and World Politics · 2 hours
Study Unit 2: Discuss the History of China and account for its interaction with the west.. Account for the reasons for the fall of the Manchu empire.. Give an account of the revolution and emergence of a communist state.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 7Module 2: KEY PLAYERS IN ASIA
Unit 3: South Korea in Asian and World Politics · 2 hours
Study Unit 3: Narrate basic Korean history.. Explain the influences that have shaped Korean politics. State the Cold War politics that led to the balkanisation of Korea into North and South Korea. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 8Module 3: COLD WAR: ASIA AMID THE IDEOLOGICAL BLOCS
Unit 1: The United States and the Cold War in Asia · 2 hours
Study Unit 1: Explain the politics that led to America's appearance in Asia.. Account for the instruments used by the Americans to roll back communism.. Understand the 'Containment Policy'.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 9Module 3: COLD WAR: ASIA AMID THE IDEOLOGICAL BLOCS
Unit 2: The Soviet Union/Chinese Republic and the Cold War in Asia · 2 hours
Study Unit 2: Discuss the USSR's activities in Asia during the Cold War.. State the motives behind the USSR's policies in Asia.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 10Module 3: COLD WAR: ASIA AMID THE IDEOLOGICAL BLOCS
Unit 3: The Great Schism in World Communism · 2 hours
Study Unit 3: Account for the disruption in relations between the Russians and the Chinese.. State the Politics behind the split.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 11Module 3: COLD WAR: ASIA AMID THE IDEOLOGICAL BLOCS
Unit 4: Alliances in the Cold War · 2 hours
Study Unit 4: Discuss the major military alliances in Asia during the Cold War and the countries which constituted them.. State the extent to which they achieved their objectives.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Unit 5: Non-Alignment in the Cold War · 2 hours
Study Unit 5: Explain the circumstances that brought about non-alignment during the Cold War.. Discuss the main motives behind non-alignment.. State the impact of the Non-aligned Movement on global politics.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 12Module 4: ASEAN AS A GLOBAL FORCE
Unit 1: History of ASEAN · 2 hours
Study Unit 1: Discuss the history of ASEAN and the reason behind its founding.. Identify the major accords of the Association.. Narrate the main philosophy underlying the association.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 13Module 4: ASEAN AS A GLOBAL FORCE
Unit 2: ASEAN in Asian Affairs · 2 hours
Study Unit 2: Discuss the regional integration policy ASEAN.. State the structure of ASEAN.. Identify the policies of ASEAN.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Unit 3: External Relations of ASEAN · 2 hours
Study Unit 3: Discuss ASEAN's External Policy.. Mention the Key Dialogue Partners of ASEAN.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Preparing for the exam
- Create timelines of key events during the Cold War in Asia, focusing on US and Soviet involvement.
- Develop comparative charts analyzing the political and economic systems of Japan, China, and South Korea.
- Outline the main objectives and achievements of ASEAN, noting its role in regional stability.
- Research current territorial disputes in Asia, focusing on the historical context and competing claims.
- Analyze the root causes of terrorism in specific Asian countries, considering socio-economic and political factors.
- Review all Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs) at the end of each unit and ensure you can answer them comprehensively.
- Focus on understanding the key concepts and theories related to international relations, such as balance of power, containment, and non-alignment.
- Create concept maps linking the different modules and units to see the interconnectedness of the course material.
- Practice writing concise summaries of key events and concepts to improve your ability to recall and articulate information.
- Allocate specific study time for each module, prioritizing those with more units or complex concepts.
Questions students ask about this course
What is INR341 about?
This course examines international politics in Asia since World War II. It explores the relationships between the United States, China, and Japan in the Asia Pacific region. The course also examines nation-building challenges in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia. Additionally, it explores alliances during the Cold War era, non-alignment, and the influence of ASEAN on regional relationships and security.
How many units does INR341 have?
INR341, Asia In World Politics, has 18 units across 5 modules, over 189 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is INR341?
INR341 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Social Sciences.
Is INR341 hard?
INR341 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does INR341 take to study?
About 90 hours of study, spread across its 18 units.
How is INR341 assessed?
INR341 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with INR341?
Diplomat, Political Analyst, International Relations Specialist, Policy Advisor and Journalist.