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Politics and Society in Eastern Asia

Code: 45045
Credits: 10
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
International Relations, Security and Development OP 1
Global East Asian Studies OB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Just Castillo Iglesias
Email :
just.castillo@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Just Castillo Iglesias
Uh Jeen Lee
Blai Guarné Cabello
Irene Masdeu Torruella

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

None.

Part of the teaching is delivered in Spanish and part in English.

Course coordination: Just Castillo Iglesias

Objectives

"East Asian Politics and Society" is a subject worth 10 ECTS that focuses on the study of social structures and institutions and the political systems and forms of East Asian countries, with special emphasis on the challenges that, in terms of dissent, difference and diversity, arise at the sociopolitical level in their respective societies in the context of globalisation. The subject integrates theoretical and conceptual contributions from political science and international relations, sociology, anthropology and the study of social movements, with the ultimate goal of understanding the social and political processes that take place in the East Asian countries.

Learning outcomes

International Relations, Security and Development
  • CA11 (To be capable of understanding the complex sociopolitical systems of East Asian countries, with specialised knowledge that may be used in decision making. ) To be capable of understanding the complex sociopolitical systems of East Asian countries, with specialised knowledge that may be used in decision making. 
  • CA12 (To be capable of interpreting the sociopolitical processes that exist in East Asian countries and understanding how they fit into the international context from a critical perspective applicable to problem solving. ) To be capable of interpreting the sociopolitical processes that exist in East Asian countries and understanding how they fit into the international context from a critical perspective applicable to problem solving. 
  • CA13 (To incorporate your sociopolitical knowledge of East Asia into the planning and development of projects in an ethical and socially responsible manner, addressing management in the field of international relations and cooperation. ) To incorporate your sociopolitical knowledge of East Asia into the planning and development of projects in an ethical and socially responsible manner, addressing management in the field of international relations and cooperation. 
  • CA14 (To be able to communicate the global relevance of the sociopolitical developments taking place in East Asia clearly and systematically to different actors. ) To be able to communicate the global relevance of the sociopolitical developments taking place in East Asia clearly and systematically to different actors. 
  • KA07 (To recognise the complexity of the sociopolitical processes that exist in East Asia and their implications for the contemporary world.) To recognise the complexity of the sociopolitical processes that exist in East Asia and their implications for the contemporary world.
  • SA12 (To analyse the political systems and social structures that characterise East Asian countries. ) To analyse the political systems and social structures that characterise East Asian countries. 
  • SA13 (To analyse the sociopolitical changes and challenges facing East Asian societies in the context of globalisation in matters of difference, diversity and inequality. ) To analyse the sociopolitical changes and challenges facing East Asian societies in the context of globalisation in matters of difference, diversity and inequality. 
  • SA14 (To competently employ concepts and theoretical and methodological perspectives in the systematic and specialised study of the sociopolitical realities of East Asia in an international context. ) To competently employ concepts and theoretical and methodological perspectives in the systematic and specialised study of the sociopolitical realities of East Asia in an international context. 
Global East Asian Studies
  • CA09 (To be capable of understanding the complex sociopolitical systems of East Asian countries, with specialised knowledge that may be used in decision making. ) To be capable of understanding the complex sociopolitical systems of East Asian countries, with specialised knowledge that may be used in decision making. 
  • CA10 (To be capable of interpreting the sociopolitical processes that exist in East Asian countries and understanding how they fit into the international context from a critical perspective applicable to problem solving.) To be capable of interpreting the sociopolitical processes that exist in East Asian countries and understanding how they fit into the international context from a critical perspective applicable to problem solving.
  • CA11 (To incorporate your sociopolitical knowledge of East Asia into the planning and development of projects in an ethical and socially responsible manner, addressing management in the field of international relations and cooperation.) To incorporate your sociopolitical knowledge of East Asia into the planning and development of projects in an ethical and socially responsible manner, addressing management in the field of international relations and cooperation.
  • CA12 (To be able to communicate the global relevance of the sociopolitical developments taking place in East Asia clearly and systematically to different actors.) To be able to communicate the global relevance of the sociopolitical developments taking place in East Asia clearly and systematically to different actors.
  • KA07 (Recognise the complexity and implications of the socio-political processes unfolding in East Asia in the contemporary world.) Recognise the complexity and implications of the socio-political processes unfolding in East Asia in the contemporary world.
  • SA13 (Analyse the political systems and social structures that characterise East Asian countries.) Analyse the political systems and social structures that characterise East Asian countries.
  • SA14 (Analyse socio-political changes and the challenges of difference, diversity and inequality in East Asian societies in the context of globalisation.) Analyse socio-political changes and the challenges of difference, diversity and inequality in East Asian societies in the context of globalisation.
  • SA15 (Competently employ theoretical and methodological concepts and perspectives in the systematic and specialised study of East Asian socio-political realities in the international environment.) Competently employ theoretical and methodological concepts and perspectives in the systematic and specialised study of East Asian socio-political realities in the international environment.

Contents

The subject’s contents are oriented towards the acquisition of knowledge on the social structures and institutions and the political systems and forms of the East Asian countries, from different theoretical and methodological perspectives. The specific contents of the subject are:


1. Political aspects: a) Characteristics: background; political, legislative and judicial systems; forms of governance and administration; b) Domestic policy: actors and policies; priorities, processes, and agendas; internal politics and external forces; c) Foreign policy: international policy; relations with the EU and with Latin America; public diplomacy and soft power.


2. Social aspects: a) Characteristics: social and economic organisation; socialisation institutions and social reproduction systems; world of work and labour market; values and social change; b) Dynamics: generational change; demographic ageing; urban growth and development; c) Inequalities: socioeconomic, cultural, gender, orientation.


3. Sociopolitical structures: a) Characteristics: citizenship and civil society; social movements and organisations; network activism; b) Processes: democracy and participation; social and political dissidence; surveillance and state cybercontrol; c) Politics of recognition: identity, diversity and difference, multiculturalism.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Lectures, talks 62 2.48 CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, KA07, SA12, SA13, SA14, SA15
Oral presentations, debates 25 1 CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, KA07, SA12, SA13, SA14, SA15
Essays writing, personal study, readings papers/specialized reports, cooperative learning 163 6.52 CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, KA07, SA12, SA13, SA14, SA15

- Lectures

- Readings papers/specialized reports

- Cooperative learning

- Debates

- Talks

- Essays writing

- Oral presentations

- Personal study

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Submission of essays, reports and commentaries 20% - 70% 0 0 CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, KA07, SA12, SA13, SA14, SA15
Theoretical - practical written assessment 10% - 40% 0 0 CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, KA07, SA12, SA13, SA14, SA15
Oral defense of essays and active participation in face-to-face sessions and activities 10% - 40% 0 0 CA09, CA10, CA11, CA12, CA13, CA14, KA07, SA12, SA13, SA14, SA15

The above information on assessment, assessment activities and their weighting are meant as a guide. The subject's lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.

The evaluation in this subject is continuous assessment. This subject is not suitable for single assessment.

Continuous assessment

Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing various tasks and tests. These activities are detailed in the table at the end of this section of the Study Guide.

Review and missed/failed assessment activities

When publishing final marks prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will outline the procedure to carry out their review and, once this is done, the resit procedure, if applicable.

UAB Assessment procedure: https://www.uab.cat/web/studies/graduate/university-master-s-degrees/evaluation/what-is-it-about-1345666815028.html

Misconduct in assessment activities

Any irregularity committed during an assessment (academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI, unless expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in a grade of 0 for that assessment. If multiple irregularities occur during assessments for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any individual who commits any of these irregularities.

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies may or may not be permitted depending on the activity. The permitted and prohibited uses in each case will be detailed in the course introduction. Students must clearly identify which parts were generated using AI technologies, specify the tools used, verify and validate the information obtained and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and the final result of the activity. A lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in graded assignments will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty on the assignment grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases. The teaching staff, in case of doubts, may require a face-to-face meeting to validate the authorship.

Bibliography

Bao, Hongwei, 2018, Queer Comrades: Gay Identity and Tongzhi Activism in Postsocialist China, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies.

Barabantseva, Elena, Małgorzata Jakimów, 2016, “‘Othering’ in the Construction of Chinese Citizenship”, Lion Koenig & Bidisha Chaudhuri, eds., The Politics of the ‘Other’: Western Concepts in Non-Western Contexts, Routledge.

Chiavacci, David, Julia Obinger, 2018, Social Movements and Political Activism in Contemporary Japan, Routledge.

Cho, Hee-Yeon, Lawrence Surendra, Hyo-Je Cho, eds., 2012, Contemporary South Korean Society: A Critical Perspective, Routledge.

Choi, Hang Sub, 2021, “A Sociological Study on the Disgust of the Young Generation toward the Elderly in Korean Society: Social Causes”, Korea Journal, 61(2): 59-86.

Froissart, Chloé, 2009, “The Rise of Migrant Workers’ Collective Actions: Toward a New Social Contract in China”, Khun Eng Kuah-Pearce & Gilles Guiheux, eds., Social Movements in China and Hong Kong. The Extension of Protest Space, Amsterdam University Press.

Guarné, Blai, ed., 2017, Antropología de Japón: Identidad, discurso y representación, CERAO UAB-Edicions Bellaterra.

Guarné, Blai, Shinji Yamashita, eds., 2015, “Multicultural Politics in Contemporary Japan”, Kenkyu Hokoku (Bulletin of the National Museum of Ethnology), Kokuritsu Minzokugaku Hakubutsukan (National Museum of Ethnology in Japan, Minpaku), 40(1).

Guo, Sujian, 2012, “Ideological Modifications in Post-Mao China” & “TheMaking of the New Communist State and the Post-Mao Transition”, Chinese Politics and Government. Power, Ideology and Organization. Routledge. 

Huang, Xiaoming, Jason Young, 2009, Politics in Pacific Asia: An Introduction, Palgrave MacMillan.

Johnson, Leif, 2017, “Bordering Shanghai: China’s Hukou System and Processes of Urban Bordering”, Geoforum, 80: 93-102. 

Joseph, William A., 2014, Politics in China: An Introduction, Oxford University Press.

Moon, Chung-in, M. Jae Moon, 2020, Routledge Handbook of Korean Politics and Public Administration, Routledge.

Pekkanen, Robert J., Yutaka Tsujinaka, Hidehiro Yamamoto, 2014, Neighborhood Associations and Local Governance in Japan, Routledge.

Seol, Dong Hoon, 2005, “Global Dimensions in Mapping the Foreign Labor Policies of Korea: A Comparative and Functional Analysis”, Journal of Asian Sociology, 34(1): 75-124.

Shinoda, T., 2013, Contemporary Japanese Politics: Institutional Changes and Power Shifts, Columbia University Press.

Slater, David H., Love Kindstrand, Keiko Nishimura, 2016, “Crisis and Opportunity: Social Media in Kōbe, Tōhoku, and Tokyo”, Mark R. Mullins & Koichi Nakano, eds., Disasters and Social Crisis in Contemporary Japan, Palgrave MacMillan.

Sugimoto, Yoshio, 2016, Una introducción a la sociedad japonesa, CERAO UAB-Edicions Bellaterra.

Sun, Yan, 2020, From Empire to Nation State: Ethnic Politics in China, Cambridge University Press.

Wang, Zheng, 2012, Never Forget National Humiliation: Historical Memory in Chinese Politics and Foreign Relations, Columbia University Press.

Zhang, Yinxian, Jiajun Liu, Ji-Rong Wen, 2018, “Nationalism on Weibo: Towards a Multifaceted Understanding of Chinese Nationalism”, The China Quarterly, 235: 758-783.

Software

We will not use specific sotfware.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish second semester afternoon