Political Science 397NA - ST-Money,Pol,Power/NE Asia

The region has it all: nuclear weapons states, large economies, and divided nations. Despite (because of) the dynamism, there are many ongoing debates in Northeast Asia that have managed to avoid resolution. Amidst all the success, we often forget just how fast, sometimes violently contentious, and relatively recent Northeast Asia and its path of economic growth and democratization has been. This may explain the complex mix of money, politics, and power at play in the region. This course will explore some of these themes as they have transpired in the countries of China, Japan, and South Korea: from theories concerning the sustainability of economic development to provocative topics such as the relationship between organized crime and politics.