Korea and the World

This course investigates the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of modern Korea. The course offers a rough mix of history, domestic politics, and foreign relations. It also approaches the empirics of Korea through various theoretical lenses ranging from identity to balance of power to alliance theory to sports diplomacy. We will cover a vast expanse of time, ranging from the Kanghwa treaty to Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. The course divides into four sections. The first is an understanding of the traditional historical and Cold War context of Korea's external relations. The second assesses the drivers of Korea's relations with the region, including Japan, the United States, China, and Russia. The next section is a three-week unit on North Korea. The last section investigates the policy priorities and potential pitfalls in Korea's path to unification as well as the implications of a united Korea on the balance of power in East Asia. No previous background on Korea is required.