GFIR 424B: Southeast Asia in World Affairs
Spring 2001
Instructor: Paige Johnson
Phone: 984-3127
E-mail: Johnson_paige@hotmail.com
Class meets T/R 3:30-4:45pm in Cabell 323
Office hours: T/R 1:15-2:30pm and by appointment after 4:45pm
Office location: Cabell Hall, B-11
This course is designed as a broad survey of Southeast Asian foreign policies. The region has not, though, in modern times been insulated from the rest of the world, so the foreign policies of the United States, China, Japan, and the former Soviet Union will loom large in our understanding of the region. We will, then, be examining the Southeast Asian nations' foreign policies as well as Southeast Asia as a realm of contention among the great powers. Our focus will be on the post-World War II period.
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The course will be divided into three parts--Introduction, Country Studies, and Issue Studies. In the Introductory section, we will explore independence-era foreign policies and the importance of the Cold War in the region. In the Country Studies portion of the course, we will look at the foreign policies of selected states—Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In the final section, Issue Studies, we will explore important contemporary international/regional issues like the future of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), regional security architecture, the possibility of an East-West clash, UN involvement in Cambodia and East Timor, and the Asian Economic Crisis.
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Students will be evaluated on class participation (15%), a midterm (20%), a research paper (30%), and a final examination (35%).
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Class participation counts for 115% of the overall course grade. In this seminar-style course, student participation is vital. We will spend most class sessions discussing the assigned readings and building our discussion from those readings. Come to class prepared (if you can answer the questions for the day, you are ready to go!). Absences are strongly discouraged. As part of course participation, students will be expected to follow one international relations issue currently in the news and to share developments on that issue in class discussion; the current issues will also play a role in class exams. Students will have to choose their issue by February 6th.
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The midterm (20% of final grade)) will be held on March 8th. This in-class exam will cover the Introductory and Country Studies sections of the course.
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The research paper assignment (330% of final grade) is designed to allow students to pursue their individual interests in foreign policies/Southeast Asia. Projects should focus on answering a how or why question about international affairs in the region (careful to focus on international relations and not comparative politics). Paper proposals must be submitted to the instructor by February 15th. Paper proposals should be about one single-space page in length; these proposals should sketch the question which the paper will explore and suggest how that question will be answered. A good proposal takes some research, so get started early! First drafts of the paper are due on April 5th; final drafts are due on April 26th. Guidelines as to style and content will be provided. Papers are to be approximately 12 pages in length.
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The open-book, take-home final eexam (35% of the final course grade) is due at the end of the scheduled exam period for this course. Three essays (4-5 pages each) will be required. The strongest essays will demonstrate good argument; solid organization; understanding of class material presented in lecture, readings, and discussion; and thought. There is no limit on the amount of time that may be spent on the exam.
Required Reading
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Chanda, Nayan. Brother Enemy: The War After the War. New York: Collier, 1986.
Kahin, Audrey R. and George McT.. Kahin. Subversion as Foreign Policy: The Secret Eisenhower and Dulles Debacle in Indonesia. New York: New Press, 1995.
Wurfel, David and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996.
A course packet is available at Brillig Books on Elliewood Avenue (on the Corner). All packet readings will be available on reserve at Clemons Library.
There will be additional on-line reading assignments, as directed in the class schedule.
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Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at http://www.asean.or.id
AsiaGateway at http://www.asiagateway.com
Asia Daily at http://www.asiadaily.com
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) at http://www.apecsec.org.sg
Asia Society Asia Source Homepage at http://www.asiasource.org
Asian Crisis Homepage by Nouriel Roubini at
http://www.stern.nyu.edu/~nroubini/asia/AsiaHomepage.html
Asian Studies at the Australian National University at
http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVL-AsianStudies.html
BBC East Asia Today at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/eastasiatoday
CNN/Time/Asiaweek at http://www.cnn.com/AsiaNow
Channel News Asia (Singapore) http://www.channelnewsasia.com
Far Eastern Economic Review (Hong Kong) at http://www.feer.com
Indonesia Department of Foreign Affairs at http://www.deplu.go.id
Indonesia The Jakarta Post at http://www.thejakartapost.com
International Affairs WWWVL at http://www.etown.edu/vl
Laos Embassy at http://www.laoembassy.com
Malaysia Ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.kln.gov.my/index1.html
Malaysia Prime Minister’s Office at http://www.smpke.jpm.my/
Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs at http://www.dfa.gov.ph
Political Resources on the Net: Asia at http://www.politicalresources.net/asia.htm
Political Science WWWVL at http://www.lib.uconn.edu/PoliSci
Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.mfa.gov.sg/
South China Sea WWWVL at http://www.middlebury.edu/SouthChinaSea
Straits Times (Singapore) at http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg
Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.mfa.go.th
Thailand The Bangkok Post at http://www.bangkokpost.net
Thailand The Nation at http://www.nationmultimedia.com
Timor at http://www.easttimor.com
Vietnam News Agency at http://www.vnagency.com.vn/vnaE4.htm
As wonderful as the web is for research, scholarly journals and government publications still form the backbone of our academic work. Some journals helpful for the study of Southeast Asia/International Relations are listed below:
Asian Survey Pacific Affairs
Current History Survival
Foreign Affairs Washington Quarterly
Foreign Policy World News Connection (US Government via the library web)
International Organization World Politics
International Security
I have set up an electronic list for the course. Messages sent to the course list will be sent to all course participants. I will use the list from time to time to send out reminders about course deadlines and occasionally current news stories from Southeast Asia that we might discuss in class. Students are strongly encouraged to use the list as well--to communicate about issues raised in class, reading assignments, or anything else that comes to mind. Send messages to gfir424b-1@toolkit.virginia.edu for broadcast to the course list.
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Introduce course content and requirements. Begin discussion of international relations and the Southeast Asian region.
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January 23 Introduction to the Region: Issues Then and Now
We will start out looking at some of the contemporary issues in the region. Why study the "region" of Southeast Asia? What are some of the contemporary issues in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?
Reading: Michael R. J. Vatikiotis. "Coming Together." Political Change in Southeast Asia. London: Routledge, 1996. pp. 166-193.
January 25 Independence and the Cold War
What were the effects of the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia on the post-World War II period? How did the Southeast Asian states move toward independence? How did the onset of the Cold War affect the Southeast Asians' independence struggles?
Note: There is a lot of historical information in the early readings. I understand that it is not possible to memorize everything. Concentrate your efforts on answering the daily questions.
Reading: A.J. Stockwell . "Southeast Asia in War and Peace: The End of the European Colonial Empires." Nicholas Tarling, ed. The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia (Volume 2). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. pp. 329-385.
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January 30 Dissolution Preferable to Neutralism: The US in Indonesia, 1956-61
The Kahins' book focuses on US policy in Indonesia in the late 1950s. The following questions will serve as the basis for our discussion today and Thursday. What were US goals in Indonesia in this period? How were US goals determined? Were these goals achieved? Identify the Indonesian actors and their goals.
Reading: Audrey R. Kahin and George McT. Kahin. Subversion as Foreign Policy: The Secret Eisenhower and Dulles Debacle in Indonesia. New York: New Press, 1995. Chs. 1-5.
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February 1 Dissolution Preferable to Neutralism: The US in Indonesia, 1956-61 . . . . continued
Reading: Audrey R. Kahin and George McT. Kahin. Subversion as Foreign Policy: The Secret Eisenhower and Dulles Debacle in Indonesia. New York: New Press, 1995. Chs. 6-9.
Tonight: A Clemons room will be reserved from 5:00-7:00pm for Part 3 ("America's Mandarin") and Part 4 ("LBJ Goes to War") of Vietnam: A Television History. These videos should be very helpful in providing the background to understand next week's sessions on Vietnam.
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February 6 Vietnam: National Liberation, Domino or Vanguard of the Revolution? Part I: US Involvement
Why and how did the US intervene in Vietnam? What were US goals in Vietnam? How did the US justify its involvement? What were the assumptions behind US policy?
Reading: James S. Olson and Randy Roberts. Where the Domino Fell: America and Vietnam, 1945-1990. New York: St. Martin's, 1991. pp. 49-206.
To learn more: read Jeffrey Race's War Comes to Long An for an on-the-ground, Vietnam-centered look at the war.
Required videos: Vietnam: A Television History, parts 3 ("America's Mandarin") and 4 ("LBJ Goes to War").
Current issue due. Students need to let the instructor know in writing today what issue they will be following in contemporary international relations in Southeast Asia. Students should submit a one-page description of their issue. What is interesting about it? How is it related to international relations in Southeast Asia? What is the background to the issue and what is expected to happen over the coming months?
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February 8 Vietnam: National Liberation, Domino or Vanguard of the Revolution? . . . . continued Part II: The Roles of the USSR and China
What were Soviet and Chinese goals in Vietnam? How and why did each country intervene? How did outside involvement serve the Vietnamese parties to the conflict?
Reading: Donald S. Zagoria,. Vietnam Triangle: Moscow, Peking, Hanoi. New York: Pegasus, 1967. pp. 17-124.
Paper proposal due in one week.
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February 13 Coping With the Cold War Through Acronyms--SEATO, ASEAN, NAM, ZOPFAN, and the SEANWFZ
What strategies did the Southeast Asians follow to "cope" with the Cold War?
Reading: C.M. Turnbull. "Regionalism and Nationalism." Nicholas Tarling, ed. The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia (Volume 2). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. pp. 585-645. "The ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration)." August 8, 1967. URL http://www.asean.or.id/history/leader67.htm."Treaty of Amity and Coopeeration in Southeast Asia." February 24, 1976. URL http://www.asean.or.id/summit/amity76.htm. "Declaration of ASEAN Concord." February 24, 1976. URL http://www.asean.or.id/summit/concord.htm. Le Duan. “Forward to the Future.” Excerpt from a 1975 speech. Clive Christie. Southeast Asia in the Twentieth Century: A Reader. London: I.B. Tauris, 1998. pp. 291-295.
February 15 The Cambodian Conflict
How could it be that two Communist nations (Vietnam and Cambodia) went to war against each other? Why did the Khmer Rouge "pick a fight" with Vietnam? Why did the Vietnamese invade Cambodia?
Reading: Nayan Chanda. Brother Enemy: The War After the War. New York: Collier, 1986. pp. 1-191.
Paper proposal due.
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February 20 The Cambodian Conflict . . . continued
How did other nations divide over the Cambodian conflict? What brought outside powers into the conflict? What kept the conflict going throughout the 1980s? How would you evaluate the morality of the Vietnamese invasion? How about the stalemate policy pursued by ASEAN, China, and the US?
Reading: Nayan Chanda,. Brother Enemy: The War After the War. New York: Collier, 1986. pp. 192-410.
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February 22 Indonesia--Southeast Asia's Leader?
What determines Indonesia's foreign policy? What continuities and discontinuities can you observe over time? Is Indonesia the region's leader? In class, we will discuss contemporary Indonesian foreign policy developments and consider those in light of the nation’s historic foreign policy.
Reading: Leo Suryadinata. Indonesia's Foreign Policy Under Suharto. Singapore: Times, 1996. pp. 1-65.
To learn more: visit the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the web at http://www.deplu.go.id.
February 27 Malaysia--Southeast Asia's Leader?
What determines Malaysia's foreign policy? Is Malaysia the region's leader?
Reading: K.S. Nathan. "Vision 2020 and Malaysian Foreign Policy." Southeast Asian Affairs 1995. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1995. pp. 220-237.
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March 1 Thailand--Follow the Thai!
The Thai have a reputation as skilful diplomats. How did they earn this reputation? Do you agree? What are the fundamental goals of Thai foreign policy?
Reading: Leszek Buszynski. "Thailand's Foreign Policy: Management of a Regional Vision." Asian Survey. Vol. 34, No. 8, August 1994. pp. 721-737. "Statement by H.E. Dr. Amnuay Viravan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand" 29th Annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. 1996. URL http://www.asean.or.id/amm/amm29ost.htm.
http://www.mfa.go.th.
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March 6 Vietnam--Renovating Foreign Policy
We have already spent quite a bit of time on Vietnam. What changes do you observe in Vietnam in the post-1986 (reform) period? We will take a look at Clinton’s November 2000 trip to Vietnam and the Vietnamese response.
Reading: Richard K. Betts. “The Strategic Predicament.” and Tatsumi Okabe. “Coping with China.” from James W. Morley and Masashi Nishihara, eds. Vietnam Joins the World. Armonk: M.E. Sharpe, 1997. pp. 94-133. Also, go to the English-language homepage of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the web (http://www.mofa.gov.vn/English/Home.htm). Under Speeches and Statements, choose “Speech by the State President Tran Duc Luong at the State Dinner in Honor of the President of the United States of America W.J. Clinton.” November 18, 2000. Also, “Remark by the US President at the State Dinner.” November 18, 2000.
Midterm this Thursday.
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March 13 Spring Break—No Class
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March 15 Spring Break—No Class
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March 20 Regional Architecture: ASEAN
ASEAN has been widely considered the most successful developing country regional organization, though it has seemed to flounder confronting the challenges of the late 1990s. Has ASEAN been successful? Is the organization now in trouble? How would you describe ASEAN's successes and failures? Can you develop a periodization of the regional organization since its founding in 1967?
Reading: Donald Crone. "New Political Roles for ASEAN." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 36-51. "Joint Communique of the Thirtieth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting." July 1997. URL http://www.asean.or.id/amm/amm30pr.htm.
To learn more: visit ASEAN's web site at http://www.asean.or.id.
March 22 Regional Security Architecture: ASEAN, ARF, and the South China Sea
It is said that the development of security "architecture" is lagging in Southeast Asia and that a great post-Cold War opportunity is being missed in the region. Do either ASEAN or the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) fit the bill? How do the conflicting claims to the South China Sea islands challenge regional order?
Reading: Jusuf Wanandi. "Southeast Asia Should Help Build a New Order." Asiaweek On-line. December 12, 1997 (packet). Paul M. Evans. “Assessing the ARF and the CSCAP.” Hung-mao Tien and Tun-jen Cheng, eds. The Security Environment in the Asia-Pacific. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. pp. 154-172. Mark J. Valencia. "The Spratly Imbroglio in the Post-Cold War Era." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 244-269. "ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea." Manila (Philippines) July 22, 1992. URL http://www.asean.or.id/politics/pol_spc4.htm.
http://www.middlebury.edu/SouthChinaSea.
March 27 Regional Economic Architecture: ASEAN, EAEC, and/or APEC
What kinds of organizations exist for the facilitation of economic relations among the countries of the region? Which hold out the greatest prospects for success? Why?
Reading: Paul M. Evans. "Economic and Security Dimensions of the Emerging Order in the Asia Pacific" and Lim, Linda Y.C. "ASEAN: New Modes of Economic Cooperation" David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 3-16, 19-35
To learn more: visit the APEC website at http://www.apecsec.org.sg.
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March 29 Asia vs. the West?
Do we face an impending clash between Asian and Western countries? Can we see the "clash" playing itself out over human rights issues? Over the issue of democracy? Over the Asian Economic Crisis?
Reading: Geoffrey Robinson. "Human Rights in Southeast Asia: Rhetoric and Reality." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 74-99. Mahathir Mohamad and Shintaro Ishihara. The Voice of Asia. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1995. pp. 13-20, 39-49, 71-86, and 119-132.
April 3 Regional Political Economy: International Relations Impacts of the Asian Economic Crisis
Reading: Sheldon Simon. “Memorandum to the President: The Economic Crisis and ASEAN Political and Security Concerns.” Robert Zoellick and Philip D. Zelikow, eds. America and the East Asian Crisis. New York: Norton, 2000. pp. 67-77. Jurgen Rutland. “ASEAN and the Asian Crisis: Theoretical Implications and Practical Consequences for Southeast Asian Regionalism.” The Pacific Review. Vol. 13. No. 3. 2000. pp. 421-451.
First drafts due Thursday.
April 5 The International Community, Indonesia, and the Birth of a New Nation: Timor Loro Sae
Reading: None assigned today.
Paper first draft due. Under no circumstances should you miss class to finish the paper draft.
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April 10 Building (Peace in) Cambodia—Guest Lecture by Ms. Sophie Richardson.
Reading: Pierre Lizee. "The Evolution of Great Power Involvement in Cambodia." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 221-243.
April 12 Video
Meet at Clemons Library for a viideo today.
April 17 Views from/of the Outside: The US
In these classes on "views from and of the outside," be sure to analyze how the Southeast Asians look out at the great power and how the great power conceives of its interests in the region. Keep in mind the diversity of approaches the different Southeast Asian nations might pursue.
Reading: Donald K. Emmerson,. "US Policy Themes in Southeast Asia in the 1990s." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 103-127.
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April 19 Views from/of the Outside: Japan
Reading: Michael W. Donnelly and Richard Stubbs. "Japan and Southeast Asia: Facing an Uncertain Future." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 165-185.
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April 24 Views from/of the Outside: China
Reading: Robert S. Ross. "China and Southeast Asia: The Challenge of Economic Competition." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 142-164. Carolina Hernandez. “ASEAN Responses to an Emerging China: A Philippine Perspective.” Hung-mao Tien and Tun-jen Cheng, eds. The Security Environment in the Asia-Pacific. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. pp. 110-126.
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April 26 Islam and Foreign Policy
How does Islam matter for foreiggn policy in Southeast Asia? Do nations with predominantly Muslim populations view international relations “differently?”
Reading: Fred R. Von der Mehden. Two Worlds of Islam: Interaction Between Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1993. Ch. 3 (“Political Interaction”).
Important Note: This book is available via the “Net Library.” To access the book, go to the Library’s Virgo. Type in the title and search for the book. When you find the right title, click to display the book’s record. The record will contain a web address to link you directly to the contents of the book. Please read Chapter 3 on “Political Interaction.” I would appreciate comments on the ease of accessibility of these “Net Library” books.
Final paper due. Under no circumstances should you miss class to finish the paper.
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May 1 The End of the Cold War in Southeast Asia--Coming Together or Coming Apart?
Review basic course themes. Consider the idea and challenge of "One Southeast Asia."
Reading: David Wurfel. "The 'New World Order' in Southeast Asia: Some Analytical Explorations." David Wurfel and Bruce Burton, eds. Southeast Asia in the New World Order: The Political Economy of a Dynamic Region. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996. pp. 273-295. "Opening Statement by H.E. Professor S. Jayakumar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore." 30th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. 1997. URL http://www.asean.or.id/amm/amm30oss.htm. Also, go to the ASEAN homepage (http://www.asean.or.id), look down the left-hand naviggation bar, choose ASEAN Summits, and then choose “Fourth.” Read the “Report of the ASEAN Eminent Persons Group on Vision 2020.” November 2000.
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TBA Final Examination
The final exam is a take-home, open-book examination. There is no limit on the amount of time that may be spent on the exam. Finals are due by the end of the scheduled exam period for this course in the Government and Foreign Affairs Faculty Office, Cabell 232. Make sure that my name is indicated prominently on the front of your essays!