China and East Asia

Political regimes in East Asia range from democratic and authoritarian to hybridist, while most are also known for their “economic miracles.” Why? This course will examine the historical experiences, cultural values and contemporary developments that have shaped the divergent political systems and behaviors as well as the developmental policies of the major states in the region: China, Japan, the “four tigers” (South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong); and to a lesser extent, North Korea.