PoliticalScience336
PoliticsandCultureintheAsia-Pacific
Spring2017 ProfessorSharonWesoky
M,W,F10a.m.-10:50a.m.
Quigley116
Quigley122
(x3343
[email protected]
Officehours:Monday10:50a.m.-12:20p.m.,Thursday2:15-3:45p.m.,Friday11a.m.-2p.m.,andby
appointment
This course employs a “problem-based” approach to consider East and Southeast Asian political
development,especiallythehistoryandfutureofdemocracyinthatregion,withaparticularfocus
on culture and religion as factors in that development. Through concepts such as Confucianism,
Buddhism,“AsianValues,”ethnicity,nationalism,andidentity,wewillbebothlearningthe“basics”
aboutAsianpoliticalregimesandassessingthewaysthatcultureleadstodistinctivepoliticalforms
in this rapidly rising part of the world, as well as presents opportunities and challenges to the
futureofdemocraticgovernance.
Goalsandobjectives:
[ TolearnsomebasicfactsaboutthehistoriesandpoliticalsystemsofsomeAsiancountries.
[ Toapplythesefactstomoreabstractsocialscienceconcepts,suchasrights,power,
democracy,nationalism,andreligion.
[ Tocriticallyconsiderthewaysthatculture,religionandotherfactorsshapepolitical
institutionsandpublicpolicies.
[ TostudyoneAsiancountryindetailthroughtheresearchandwritingproject,andtoreport
someofyourfindingstotheclass.
Books(allavailableforpurchaseatthecampus
bookstore)
BruceGilley,TheNatureofAsianPolitics
JosephLiow,ReligionandNationalisminSoutheast
Asia
RichardMadsen,Democracy'sDharma:Religious
RenaissanceandPoliticalDevelopmentinTaiwan
T.R.Reid,ConfuciusLivesNextDoor:WhatLivingin
theEastTellsusaboutLivingintheWest
readingsonSakai
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CourseRequirements
Individualshortpapers
Ø20%
Groupshortpaperandwebsite
Ø15%
Finalresearchpaper Ø20%
Finalexam(comprehensive,take-home)
Ø20%
Attendance,participation,andSakaiquestions
Ø25%
Youshouldreadallassignmentspriortotheclassforwhichtheyareassigned.
Gradedcomponentsforthiscourseconsistofthefollowing:
1,2,&3.)Duringthesemester,insmallgroups,youwillbechoosing(inconsultationwithme)
a country in the Asia-Pacific region to “focus upon” in writing the short papers and the
research paper (some individually and some in groups). These short papers will both
involve responding to class reading as well as beginning the research project, also in
response to class reading. This work will also contribute to writing a research paper
(individually)andthecreationofawebsiterelatingtotheresearchassignment(ingroups).
Detailswillfollowonaseparatehandout.
4.)Atake-homefinalexam(dueatnoononMonday,May8th).
5.)Thisclasswillbeamixoflectureanddiscussion,soyouractiveparticipationisimportant.
Partofyourclassparticipationgradewillconsistofyoursubmissionof“Sakaiquestions”.I
willdividetheclassinto“Monday,”“Wednesday,”and“Friday”groupsandmembersofeach
group will each week be responsible for submitting a discussion question based on that
day’sreadingsonourSakaipage,inthe“Forums”.Pleasesubmityourquestionby9a.m.on
the day of class. I will incorporate these questions into that day’s class content; they may
alsobeusefulforyourresearchprojectsandfinalexamreview.Thequestionsthatyouask
maytakeavarietyofforms.Theymayaddresssomeofthefollowingaspectsofthereading:
• Whataresomeofthecontradictionsorambiguitiesinthistext?
• Doestheauthorsupportallofhisorherassumptions?How?
• Whatsortsofbiasesexistinthisreading?
• Are there ways that what is discussed in the text is congruent with your own
experiences?Didyouhaveanyparticularpersonalresponsestothereading?
• Whatinterestsareservedbythepublicationofthistext?
• Howdoesthisreadingrelatetothemajor“problems”inAsianpoliticsthatweare
discussing?
Thisexerciseismeanttobothencouragecriticalreadingoftextsthatweuseforclass,and
to encourage your participation in structuring classroom discussions. You may skip two
questionsduringthesemesterwithnopenaltytoyourgrade.Iamawarethatsometimes
things happen that prevent you from attending class—please try to inform me (via
voicemailoremail)ifyouneedtobeabsent,andyouaresubsequentlyresponsibletofind
out from your classmates what you missed. More than three class absences (excused or
unexcused)willbegintonegativelyaffectyouroverallclassgrade;morethanfiveabsences
willcauseyoutoriskfailingtheclass.
Anylateassignments--papersorexams--willhavethreepointsdeductedfromtheirgradeforeach
daytheyarelate.Youmustcompleteallassignmentstopassthiscourse.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Please note that plagiarism includes direct or
indirectuseofanywordsorideasotherthanyourownwithoutproperacknowledgment.Usingthe
words or ideas of another person, including from internet sources, without proper citation is a
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violationofcollegepolicyandcouldresultinfailureoftheassignmentorcourse.TheHonorCode
representsyourcommitmenttoscholarship,honesty,andintegrity.Whenstudentsdonotabideby
theCodetheycauseharmtoourcommunity.Rememberthatwhenyouturninmaterialsthenew
pledgeisasfollows:"Thisworkismineunlessotherwisecited."TheHonorCommitteewould
likestudentstowritethisonassignmentsthatareturnedinalongwiththeirsignature.TheHonor
Committeebelievesthatbywritingthesesentencesstudentsshowtheircommitmenttothevalues
representedbytheHonorCode.
Ifyouhaveaphysical,psychological,medical,orlearningchallengethatmayhaveanimpactonyour
abilitytocarryoutassignedcoursework,IstronglyurgeyoutocontactJohnMangine,thedirectorof
StudentSupportServices,inPelletierLibraryat(814)[email protected]
MangineandthestaffattheLearningCommonswillreviewyourconcernsanddetermine,withyou,if
and/or what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of
disabilityisentirelyconfidential.
ANoteonextenuatingcircumstances
ü If you should find yourself in difficult circumstances that significantly interfere with your
abilitytoprepareforthisclassandtocompleteassignments,pleaseinformmeimmediately
sothatwecanworksomethingouttogether!Donotwaituntilthelastdayofclasstoaskfor
exceptionstowhatisstatedinthissyllabus.Insuchasituation,youmayalsofindithelpful
tocontactthecampusCounselingCenter(332-4368)in304ReisHall,whichisopenfrom85butalsohasa24hourhotline.
Please regularly check both your Allegheny email and our class Sakai page—these will be the
primarywaysthatIwillcommunicatewithyou.
Also, please be sure to turn your cell phones off and put them away during class. Among college
faculty nationwide, there is currently a fervent debate on whether laptops and other electronics
shouldbepermittedintheclassroom. For this class, my policy is that Idonotforbiduseoflaptops
or tablets (iPads, etc.), but I highly discourage their use. There is some evidence that their use
diminisheslearningoutcomes;inaddition,ifyouarestaringatorevenoccasionallydistractedby
thescreeninfrontofyou,youarenotabletofullyengageinthemutualconversationthatiscentral
tothepedagogicalapproachtothisclass.
SCHEDULEANDASSIGNMENTS(subjectto
change!)
Week1---January18and20
Wednesday:introductoryclass
Friday:aviewofadistinctiveAsiarising
readGilley,Chapter1
3
Week2---January23,25,and27
Monday:moreonAsia’srise
readonSakai:Mahbubani,“Introduction”;Pei,“ThinkAgain:Asia’sRise”
Wednesday:cultureanddemocracyinAsia
readonSakai:Kaplan,“Asia’sRiseisRootedinConfucianValues”;FetzerandSoper,
Confucianism,Democratization,andHumanRightsinTaiwan,Chapter1
Friday:moreondemocracyinAsia
readonSakai:Thompson,“DemocracywithAsianCharacteristics”
Week3---January30,February1and3
Monday:thinkingaboutquestionsinAsianpolitics
Wednesday:moreoncultureandAsia’srise
readReid,Chapter1
Friday:Japan’shistoricalandpoliticallegacies
readReid,Chapter2
Week4---February6,8,and10
Monday:Confucianismnowandthen
readReid,Chapters3-4
Wednesday:educationandsocietyinJapan
readReid,Chapter5
Friday:Japanesebusinessandeconomics
readReid,Chapters6-7
Week5---February13,15,and17
Monday:politicsinJapan
readReid,Chapter8
readonSakai:CurrentHistory,“APushtoEndPacifismTestsJapaneseDemocracy”;
FinancialTimes,“TweakingandTinkeringWillNotFixJapan’sDemocracy”
Wednesday:evaluatingthe“AsianValues”argument
readReid,Chapters9-10
Friday:workshopdayonquestionsinAsianpolitics
Week6---February20,22,and24
Monday:stateandsocietyinAsianpolitics
readGilley,Chapter2
Wednesday:Asiaand“development” readGilley,Chapter3
Friday:“democracy”inAsia
readGilley,Chapter4
4
Week7---February27,March1and3
Monday:moreonstate,society,democracy
readonSakai:OpenDemocracy,“TheCrisis
ofDemocracyinJapan”;CurrentHistory,“NewSpaces,NewControls:China’s
EmbryonicPublicSphere”;CurrentHistory,“ResistingChineseInfluence:Social
MovementsinHongKongandTaiwan”
Wednesday:governanceinAsia
readGilley,Chapter5
Friday:moreonpolicyandgovernance
readGilley,Chapter6
readonSakai:CurrentHistory,“Singaporeat50”
Week8---March6,8,and10
Monday:“authoritariannostalgia”inAsia
readonSakai:JournalofDemocracy,“AuthoritarianNostalgiainAsia”
Wednesday:“AsianValues”and/vs.democracy
readonSakai:JournalofAsianPublicPolicy,“Roadtogoodgovernanceandmodernization
inAsia:‘Asianvalues’and/ordemocracy?”
Friday:evaluatingdiscussionson“AsianValues,”governance,anddemocracy
Week9---March13,15,and17
Monday:religion,politics,andnationalism
readLiow,Introduction
Wednesday:moreonreligionandnationalism
readLiow,Chapter1
Friday:Taiwan,religion,anddemocracy
readonSakai:FetzerandSoper,Confucianism,Democratization,andHumanRightsin
Taiwan,Chapter2
March18-26SpringBreakJ
Week10---March27,29,and31-
Monday:BuddhismanddemocracyinTaiwan(Part1)
readMadsen,Chapter1
Wednesday:BuddhismanddemocracyinTaiwan(Part2)
readMadsen,Chapter2
Friday: BuddhismanddemocracyinTaiwan(Part3)
readMadsen,Chapters3-4
5
Week11---April3,5,and7
Monday:conclusionsaboutreligionanddemocracyin
Taiwan
readMadsen,Chapter5andConclusion
Wednesday:challengestodemocracyinthePhilippinesandThailand
readonSakai:CurrentHistory,“Repression,Resistance,andtheLawin
Post-CoupThailand”;CurrentHistory,“TheSpecterofNeo-Authoritarianisminthe
Philippines”
Friday:religiousseparatisminthePhilippines
readLiow,Chapter2
Week12---April10,12,and14
Monday:religiousseparatisminThailand
readLiow,Chapter3
Wednesday:workshopdayonresearchprojects
Friday:democracyinMalaysiaandSingapore
readonSakai:JournalofDemocracy,“StrongStateDemocratizationinMalaysiaand
Singapore”
Week13---April17,19,and21
Monday:moreondemocracyinIndonesiaandMalaysia
readonSakai:JapaneseJournalofPoliticalScience,“CriticalCitizens:AttitudesToward
DemocracyinIndonesiaandMalaysia”;CurrentHistory,“Democratic
BackslidingandtheReachofISISinSoutheastAsia”
Wednesday:democracyandreligioninMalaysia
readLiow,Chapter4
Friday:democracyandreligioninIndonesia
readLiow,Chapter5
Week14---April24,26,and28
Monday:concludingthoughtsonreligionandnationalism
readLiow,Conclusion
Wednesday:workdayforprojects
Friday:presentationofresearchprojects
Week15---May1
Monday:presentationofresearchprojects
Monday,May8th:finalexamdueatnoon
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Guidelinesforclassparticipation
AAnAgradeforclassparticipationisawardedwhenstudentsregularlyinitiatediscussion.Thismeans
comingtoclassthoroughlyfamiliarwiththeassignedreadingand,therefore,preparedtoraisequestions,to
open discussion, to identify topics of interest in the reading, and to actively engage other students in the
discussion.(Obviously,thisdoesnotmeanmonopolizingadiscussion,orshuttingothersout,ortalkingforits
ownsakeratherthantomakeapointaboutthetopicunderdiscussion.)
BABgradeforclassparticipationisawardedtostudentswhoparticipateregularlyandproductivelyin
classdiscussion,whoareprepared,andwhoarewillingtoengage.BdiscussantsdifferfromAstudentsin
thatthelatterareself-starterswhodonotrelyontheinstructor’squestionstosettheagendafordiscussion.
C A C grade for class participation is awarded to those who participate on a regular basis, though less
frequentlythantheBstudent.Cdiscussants’participationmaybeindicativethattheyarenotwell-prepared
forclass,orhavenotgiventhoughttoassignedmaterials.
DADgradeforclassparticipationisgiventothosewhocontributeonlyinfrequentlytothediscussion.
FAnFgraderesultsfromnon-participationinclassdiscussion.Ofcourse,participationisimpossibleifthe
putativeparticipantisnotinclass.FrequentabsencesmandateFgrades.
GuidelinesforEssay-Grading
(WrittenbyBenSloteandmodifiedslightlybyAnnBomberger)
A
AnessayintheArangeisbasedonanoriginal,logicalandcoherentlyorganizedsetofideas;itmakes
a clear and persuasive argument (even if the reader disagrees with its argument); it brings in specific,
relevantexamplestobackupitsassertions;itspoints,ateachturn,areclearlyarticulated:thewordscarry
precisemeaning,theydon'tobscureit;itssentencesuseonlythewordstheirideasrequire,notanymore;its
paragraphshavedistinctthoughrelatedrolesintheessay'scohesionasawhole,eachholdingonethoroughly
asserted idea (not two competing ideas, not one idea half-asserted); if appropriate it accurately and
thoughtfully uses other sources; and its sentences are without the grammatical, spelling, or typographical
mistakes that exacting proof-reading would catch. (All of this takes a lot of work. If it is all very nearly
accomplished,theessayusuallyearnsanA-.)
B
An essay in the B range: a very good paper, the writing of which is clearly, thoughtfully, and
effectively executed. What sometimes prevents an "A" is a lack of originality, thorough thinking or careful
proofreading. If two of these virtues are absent and the other areas of the paper are strong, the essay will
usuallyearnaB-.
C
An essay in the C range: some conspicuous flaw usually earns an essay a C; its argument is really
underdeveloped,itcontainsonlyminimaltextualsupport,ithasproblemswithorganizationand/orsentence
clarity,itisindireneedofproofreading.
D
ADessayeithercontainsmorethanoneofthelargeproblemscitedinthe"C"descriptionorfinds
another way to convince its reader that the author has not spent nearly enough time on the thinking or
writingintheessay.
F
An F essay misses on all criteria (originality, articulateness, persuasiveness, organization, the
absenceofmechanicalmistakes).
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