For example, the current authoritarian backsliding in Burma will be analysed through the lens of the Resource Curse theory, which will allow us to make sense of the Tatmadaw's reluctance to loosen its iron grip on political power. Similarly, the rise of China and the resulting tensions between Beijing and Washington will be filtered through the analytical prism of Offensive Realism and Power Transition Theory, which will lead us to consider the likelihood of a major conflict erupting between the United States and China. Exploring the internal logic of North Korea's strident rhetoric and nuclear provocations, finally, will help demonstrate the rationale behind the reckless acts of a country that is often described as fundamentally irrational.

 

This class aims at providing students with the keys to understanding some of the most recent (and often puzzling) developments in the Indo-Pacific region by both underlining their historical roots, as well as some of their systemic underlying factors – -- allowing students to extrapolate this class' findings to other regions of the world."