This upper-level seminar course allows students to deepen their knowledge of politics in Asia and the Pacific while acquainting themselves with some of the major methodological traditions in political science research. Through direct interaction with some of the world’s leading scholars of Asia-Pacific politics, students will be introduced to major debates, puzzles, and challenges driving contemporary research on the region. By analysing and comparing how scholars approach important issues in contemporary state-society relations, the course will also familiarise students with research methods used in the study of comparative politics, including interpretivist approaches, case study research, historical institutionalism, and quantitative approaches. Cases will be drawn from across the South, Southeast and Northeast Asian regions, as well as from the Southwest Pacific. Assessment tasks will include review essay and research design options. These are designed to assist students develop basic research skills, for use in future professional careers and/or as preparation for more advanced research at honours level or beyond.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand major concepts associated with the study of state-society relations;

2. Understand the application of these concepts to historic and contemporary situations in the Asia-Pacific;

3. Possess a borad empirical knowledge of state-society relations in the Asia-Pacific region;

4. Critically evaluate approaches to the study of state-society relations in the region;

5. Possess an appreciation of key qualitative and quantitative research methods used in the study of comparative politics;

6. Design a longer research project about some aspect of state-society relations in the Asia-Pacific that uses their knowledge of key concepts, methods and issues introduced in the course;

7. Express themselves clearly with respect to the topic  area in a variety of formats, including verbal and written. 

Seminar participation 10%

Review essay 20%

Research essay 4000 words 40%

Research proposal 30%  

2 contact hours and 6 hours private study per week.

6 university courses (36 units).

There are no pre-requisties for this course, but students are expected to have some knowledge of political science, sociology, political anthropology and/or social/political life in the Asia-Pacific region.

Readings will be made available on Wattle.

Wattle