This course examines the Grand Strategies of key Asia-Pacific powers. Grand strategy is the coordination and direction of the resources of a nation for the purpose of ensuring long-term national goals in an international environment in which the possibility of the use of force is ever-present. This course analyses grand strategies in all parts of the Asia-Pacific region, including Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Australasia. It begins with an introduction to the concept of grand strategy and its application in an Asia-Pacific context. It goes on to include coverage of ‘great power’ grand strategies, including China, India, Japan, Russia and the United States as case studies. It considers so-called ‘middle power’ grand strategies, focusing upon Australia, South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It examines ‘small power’ grand strategies, such as those of New Zealand and the small island states of the South Pacific. And it seeks to illuminate the grand strategies of so-called ‘rogue states’, namely Myanmar and North Korea.

On satisfying the requirements for this course, students will have built a strong analytical framework and sound empirical knowledge base with which to explain and understand the grand strategies of key Asia-Pacific powers. They will have a keen understanding of the factors – historical, social, political, economic and cultural – which shape those grand strategies. They will comprehend how and why those grand strategies have evolved over time. And they will be able to compare and contrast the grand strategies of a diverse range of Asia-Pacific powers. Through a combination of formal lectures and classroom discussions, tutorials and a variety of written assessments, students completing this course will have built strong academic foundations in the analysis of Asia-Pacific grand strategies, which will benefit them in other courses, as well as in their present and future academic and professional careers.

Assignments 60%, Examination 40%

Students undertaking this course could expect a workload of 20 hours a week. This is inclusive of actual contact hours for lectures and also out of class preparation time.

Delivery Mode:

On campus, Semester 2.