LAS230 East Asia Through International Relation

Autumn Semester 2025/26

20 credits

Module Organiser: Dr Saori Shibata (s.shibata@sheffield.ac.uk)

Overview

In this module, you will explore the complex International Relations of North East Asia through the lens of International Relations theory. This module will explore topics and theories on a week-to-week basis, with each two weeks addressing a new theoretical perspective and a concomitant topic. Over the course of the module you will become familiar with both the politics of the region of East Asia, and common theories applied to understand these phenomena. You will be introduced to the politics of security, economic cooperation and conflict, national identity and memory, and the politics of international status. You will also be introduced to the utility of limitations of realist, liberal, constructivist, critical, and environmentalist approaches to International relations theory

• Compare national political priorities across five key areas of foreign policy among major actors in East Asia.

• Assess the applicability of different schools of International Relations to key areas of political contention in East Asia.

• Evaluate the relevance of 'Western' International Relations Theory for analysing  key political issues in East Asia.

• Debate key areas of foreign policy among China, the Koreas, and Japan with reference to the International Relations theoretical canon.

• Compose theoretically informed responses to questions of policy decision-making in East Asia.

Study Hours

The University recommends that you spend 200 hours working on a 20 credit module. This will include:

• Lecture: 11 hours

• Seminar: 11 hours

• Independent study: 178 hours

Assessment

• Essay - 40%

• Presentation -  30%

• Review Portfolio - 30%