Geopolitics in an Age of Multipolarity: Russia and Asia

As the geopolitical center of the world moves to Asia, the position of leading Asian countries and middle powers play a crucial role in the formation of the new world order. Yet, we know remarkably little about the main trends of political thought that have shaped the emergence of modern Asian nations.

This course aims to provide an understanding of the major components in modern Asian politics (East Asia and the Indian subcontinent) and how they have changed over the course of the last 100 years. The course also hopes to develop an understanding of the relationship between Russia and Asian major and middle powers (China, India, and Southeast Asian nations); and an understanding of Russia’s “Turn” to Asia and the role of Asiatic Russia in this endeavor. This course will encourage students to critically evaluate literature in the field of international politics, in particular the concepts of Eurocentrism and bipolarity / multipolarity.