2016/17 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

EAST5041M Political Economy of the Pacific Rim

15 Credits Class Size: 30

Module manager: Professor Christopher Dent
Email: c.m.dent@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module looks at the world's most dynamic and significant regional economy - the Pacific Rim. Various development, trade, and business related issues are examined that encompass East Asia's 'tiger' economies, the United States and the Oceanic nations of Australia and New Zealand. Students will participate in an interactive role-play exercise of negotiating a free trade agreement between Japan and South Korea as part of this module.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students will have:
- acquired broad factual knowledge concerning the political economy of the Pacific Rim;
- studied different national and sub-regional economies (eg South East Asia) of the Pacific Rim in a regional context;
- examined a range of economic, political and social developments across the Pacific Rim region;
- studied various interfaces between the Pacific Rim's domestic and international political economy.

Learning outcomes

To have a broad understanding of the political economy of the Pacific Rim region through realising the module objectives.

Skills outcomes

International political economy, political science, economics, international relations.

Syllabus

The Pacific Rim region has recently emerged as the new centre of global economic gravity. Encompassing East Asia, Pacific America and Oceania, the Pacific Rim accounts for some of the most powerful and dynamic economies of the world.

It is a highly diverse global economic region, ranging from the less developed economies of Southeast Asia to advanced industrial countries such as Japan and the United States.

This module examines the Pacific Rim from a political economy perspective, considering how politics and economics have combined to determine the region's rise within the international economic system.

We look at key broad issues that are defining the political economy of the Pacific Rim (eg globalisation), as well as make case studies on the different national economies of the region.

Special emphasis is placed on the various interfaces between the Pacific Rim's domestic and international political economy, and this is particularly explored in the assessed role-play exercise on negotiating a Japan - Korea Free Trade Agreement.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Lecture 11 1 11
Seminar 11 1 11
Private study hours 128
Total Contact hours 22
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 150

Private study

- 22 hours preparation for lectures and seminars.
- 40 hours preparation for role-play exercise, including writing assignment.
- 66 hours preparation for exam.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Active participation in seminars and assessed role-play exercise.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Assignment 2,500 word assignment based on participation in role-play exercise/negotiating a Japan-Korea Free Trade Agreement 50
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 50

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams
Exam type Exam duration % of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) 2.0 Hrs Mins 50
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) 50

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/07/2012

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team