Bachelor 2025/2026

State and Society in East Asia

Type: Elective course (HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia)

Delivered by: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 2 year, 1, 2 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Eriks Varpahovskis

Language: English

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Course DescriptionEast Asia is an important region that includes the second and the third largest economies in theworld and has four countries in the G20. East Asian countries have achieved remarkableeconomic success in the post-war period but are facing many endogenous and exogenouschallenges. Focusing on Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea, this course will examine thepolitical, social, and economic pathways traveled by East Asian countries on their road toprosperity, democracy, and security.In this course, students will analyze comparatively the models of economic development, politicalchanges, and social transformations pursued in these countries. Topics examined in this courseinclude culture and values, war and colonialism, historical memory, the developmental state,development and politics in China, democratization in South Korea and Taiwan, socialmovements, economic crisis, nationalism, low fertility trap, precarious labor, and the East Asianwelfare state.