Asia-Pacific Studies Courses

Key to Course Descriptions.

| Course Winter Timetable |


First Year Seminars

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.


ASI400Y1
Seminar in Asia-Pacific Studies  [48L] (formerly ASI300Y1)

This seminar course examines diverse postwar experiences and realities of the Asia Pacific region, which comprises a range of countries that differ in cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, in levels of social and economic developments, and in political regimes. Unlike Europe, which has gone through a steady process of integration since WWII, regional links among Asia Pacific countries have been rather weak and often limited. Attempts to forge regional economic cooperation within the Asia Pacific region, such as ASEAN, have been fraught with political and historical tensions. As a result, much of the linkage has been limited to investment, trade, and production networks. This seminar will examine the various social, economic, and political experiences and realities of the countries in this region and their implications.
Prerequisite: POL215Y1 and enrolment in the Asia Pacific Studies major/permission of the Program Director
Exclusion: ASI300Y1
DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA


JPA410H1
Democracy and Identity in Asia (formerly ASI410H1)        [24S]

The course explores the ways in which identity has been empowered, represented, and institutionalized in Asia’s emerging democracies; how identity claims challenge historically notions of state and nation; various ways in which democracy is being shaped and challenged by demands for identity recognition. Thematic, cross-regional approach; pan-Asian (East, Southeast, South Asia). (Given by the Department of Political Science and the Dr. David Chu Program is Asia Pacific Studies).
Exclusion: ASI410H1
DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA


JPA420H1
Asia and the new Global Economy (formerly ASI420H1) [24L]

Course explores the rise of Asia and its integration into the new global economy (labour, capitalism, knowledge economy, economic nationalism, inequality, gender, the meaning of capitalism, democracy, among others), exposing students to different disciplinary perspectives. Geographical coverage is pan-Asian, including East, Southeast and South Asia. (Given by the Department of Political Science and the Dr. David Chu Program is Asia Pacific Studies).
Exclusion: ASI420H1
DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA


ASI430H1
Nationalism, Revolution and Reform in Asia: China in Comparative Perspective [24L]

This course explores the far-reaching social, political, and cultural transformations in modern China. Focusing on China’s twentieth-century revolutionary history and its struggles to establish a modern nation-state, the course adopts a topical approach within a chronological and comparative framework to highlight major historical movements and theoretical issues significant to the Asian experience.
Exclusion: HIS328H1
DR=HUM/SOC SCI; BR=TBA