International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2) from Coursera

"International Communication and East Asian Affairs: Current Political and Economic Conditions" is an online course provided by the Graduate Institute of Journalism, National Taiwan University, and Radio Taiwan International.

This course delves into East Asian affairs, particularly focusing on China and Taiwan. Topics covered include China's Third Revolution and its implications for the Sino-American strategic competition, the political economy of China, state-society relations within China, and an exploration of recent youth politics in Taiwan.

Each week, the course provides comprehensive video lectures and interactive discussions to facilitate deeper understanding and engagement with the subject matter. Whether taken as part of advanced international communication studies or as preparation for enrollment in the Graduate Institute of Journalism at National Taiwan University, this course delivers intellectual stimulation and is instrumental in understanding contemporary global dynamics and East Asian affairs.

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Syllabus

China's Third Revolution and the Sino-American Strategic Competition

This is an introductory module to briefly discuss how China has changed since Xi Jinping came to power and how this change has led to the reorientation of America’s China policy from “engagement” to “competition.” It will first introduce Xi Jinping’s Third Revolution following Mao Zedong’s First Revolution and Deng Xiaoping’s Second Revolution, and then explain why Xi has launched this revolution. It is followed by explaining how this change is in conflict with the assumption of America’s “engagement policy.” And then we talk about how the Trump and Biden administrations’ have responded to this conflict. Finally, we will discuss whether the strategic competition between the U.S. and China will evolve into a new cold war.

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Explores Sino-American strategic competition, relevant to global dynamics and East Asian affairs

Covers the political economy, state-society relations, and recent youth politics in China and Taiwan, providing a comprehensive overview of contemporary East Asian affairs

Taught by instructors from the Graduate Institute of Journalism, National Taiwan University, and Radio Taiwan International, recognized institutions in the field of journalism and East Asian studies

Provides interactive discussions to facilitate engagement and understanding of the subject matter, enhancing the learning experience

May require prior knowledge or interest in East Asian affairs or international communication for optimal comprehension

Does not provide hands-on practice or experiential learning opportunities, which may be valuable for some learners

Reviews summary

Comprehensive east asian geopolitics analysis

According to students, this course offers an incredibly insightful and solid overview of complex East Asian affairs, particularly focusing on China and Taiwan. Learners praise the lectures for their nuanced discussions on topics like China's political economy and Taiwan's youth politics, finding them highly relevant and eye-opening. The instructor's expertise is frequently highlighted, with students appreciating their ability to simplify complex geopolitical dynamics. While the course is considered a foundational piece for understanding the region, a few learners noted that some readings felt a bit dense or that discussion forums weren't very active.

Offers a broad yet foundational understanding of the region.

"This course offers a solid overview of complex East Asian issues, definitely for serious learners."

"It definitely stands alone as a foundational piece for understanding the region."

"The modules on China's 'Third Revolution' were fascinating and well-structured, providing great context."

Instructor effectively clarifies complex geopolitical topics.

"The instructor's expertise is evident, and their ability to simplify complex geopolitical dynamics is remarkable."

"I appreciated the instructor's ability to explain intricate concepts in an understandable way."

"My understanding of the region significantly improved thanks to the clear and expert teaching."

Provides deep, current insights into East Asian political dynamics.

"The lectures were incredibly insightful, especially the nuanced discussions on China's political economy under Xi."

"The content is very current and well-researched, making it highly relevant for anyone in international relations."

"I found the modules on Taiwan's youth politics particularly eye-opening and valuable."

Opportunities for peer interaction in forums were not robust.

"My only minor critique is that discussion forums weren't very active, which limited opportunities for peer interaction."

"I wish there had been more engagement in the online discussions among students."

"The forum could be a valuable resource for deeper discussion, but it seemed underutilized by participants."

Some required readings can be challenging to fully absorb.

"While the lectures are comprehensive, some of the readings felt a bit dense and could have been curated more for clarity."

"I found myself needing to reread certain sections of the texts to grasp them fully."

"Some of the provided materials were quite academic and required significant time investment."

Some topics could benefit from more in-depth coverage.

"Good starting point, but I felt some topics could have gone deeper, like state-society relations."

"I was hoping for more practical application or case studies beyond just theory in certain modules."

"I had to do additional research on my own to get the full picture on specific areas of interest."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2) with these activities:

Compile a digital notebook of course materials and notes

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Stay organized and improve your recall by creating a digital notebook where you can store all relevant course materials.

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Choose a note-taking app or software that works for you.
Create a new notebook for the course.
Import lecture slides, readings, notes, and any other relevant materials into the notebook.

Review key political science and history concepts

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Review key concepts in political science and history to build a strong foundation for understanding the course material.

Browse courses on Chinese Politics

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Review your notes or textbooks from previous political science and history courses.
Take practice quizzes or review online resources to test your understanding of key concepts.

Complete practice questions on Chinese history and politics

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Reinforce your understanding of Chinese history and politics by completing practice questions and quizzes.

Browse courses on Chinese History

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Find practice questions and quizzes online or in textbooks.
Take the practice questions and quizzes, reviewing your answers to identify areas where you need improvement.

Four other activities

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Read 'China's Grand Strategy' by John Mearsheimer

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Gain insights into China's strategic objectives and foreign policy behavior by reading a seminal work in the field.

View The Ecology of Nations: American Democracy in a... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of 'China's Grand Strategy'.
Read the book thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting important passages.
Summarize the main arguments and theories presented in the book.

Join a study group with peers who are also taking the course

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Establish a study group to work on assignments, discuss course material, and learn from your peers.

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Post a message on the course discussion board or reach out to classmates via email to find potential study partners.
Set up a regular meeting time and place to meet.
Develop a study plan and allocate responsibilities for preparing and presenting on different topics.

Develop a research proposal on a topic related to East Asian affairs

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Develop a research proposal to solidify your understanding of East Asian affairs and prepare for future research or coursework.

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Identify a specific topic within East Asian affairs that interests you.
Conduct a literature review to gather background information on your topic.
Develop a research question and hypothesis.
Outline your research methods and data analysis plan.

Write a blog post or article on a current event related to East Asian affairs

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Solidify your understanding of the course material by analyzing and writing about current events related to East Asia.

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Choose a current event that is relevant to the course topics.
Research the event thoroughly, gathering information from multiple sources.
Write a blog post or article that analyzes the event, provides context, and offers your own insights.

Career center

Learners who complete International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2)

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Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive east asian geopolitics analysis

Activities

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