INTR9061 Governance and the new Political Economy of East Asia

2017

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly

1 of ASST9014, INTR9006 has been successfully completed

Master of Arts (International Relations); Master of Arts (International Development) by coursework; Master of Accounting (Advanced); Graduate Diploma in Research (Business); Graduate Diploma in International Relations; Graduate Diploma in International Development; Graduate Diploma in Asian Governance; Graduate Certificate in International Development; Graduate Certificate in International Relations; Graduate Certificate in Research (Business); Master of Accounting

This topic will first assess the impact of the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 on the region's business and political elites. It will analyse how the crisis impacted upon the region's political, social and economic institutions. Secondly, the topic assesses the impact of the war on terror since S-11 2001 on the region's diplomacy and security outlook.

During the decade before 1997 Southeast Asia was blessed by high levels of economic growth and relative political stability. The illusion of an 'Asian economic miracle' was shattered with the onset of a financial crisis in 1997/98 that had wide ranging political and social ramifications. Southeast Asia's relative political stability was undermined further by the events of 11 September 2001 and subsequent terrorist attacks in the region. The US declared a war on international terrorism and declared that Southeast Asia was the 'second front' in that war.

Both developments transformed the economic and security landscapes of Southeast Asia in ways that were not predicted a decade ago. The aim of this topic is to critically assess how the governing and business elites of Southeast Asia responded to the challenges posed by economic crisis and terrorism, and the impact, in turn, of those challenges on the elites themselves. The topic aims to give students a broad appreciation of the evolution of Southeast Asia's divergent elites through periods of relative stability and prosperity. Students will be able to critically assess a number of key issues. How are business elites managing post-economic crisis recovery? How are governing elites managing the short and long term political and security impacts of the US declared war on international terrorism?

Students will also be encouraged to identify and focus on a specific country or theme, though this is not compulsory. Those who do will gain a deeper understanding of the case study and be able to relate the broader themes of the topic to a specialised interest.

The renewed focus on political and security challenges has added a new dimension to the economic concerns that preoccupied Southeast Asia's elites for so long. Students will be able to assess the performance of business and political elites as they try and manage ongoing political and economic uncertainties.

This is a specialist Topic in the School of International Studies that is open to students from a variety of other Schools. Special attention is given to catering for a diversity of discipline backgrounds, both in topic content and student research interests. Students will learn to apply their disciplinary background and special interests to the broad political economy themes of the topic.

This is achieved through participation in Seminars, which consists in part of student presentations on their area of research for this Topic. Students are require to construct a research topic on a subject of interest that is relevant to the topic, and research and write a major paper for assessment. This not only deepens a student's specialist knowledge, it also enhances researching, analytical and communication skills.

Students also learn through intense one on one supervision on a need to basis with the Topic Convenor. In addition to special areas of research interest, students will also be able to critically assess a variety of perspectives on the causes and consequences of the Asian economic crisis and the changing nature of Southeast Asia's political and security relationships with the US and its allies, such as Australia. Students will better understand how Southeast Asia's business and political elites have managed these economic and political challenges. They will access a variety of academic and internet sources and learn how to discriminate between independent and advocacy positions in debates over elite policy.

Evidence of these learning outcomes will come from the level and nature of student interaction in seminars, as well as assessment of the major research topic.