HIST 2260 - East Asia and Great Power Competitions: Past, Present, and Future

Nearly all the Great Powers of the past 200 years have contested each other in East Asia. The stability of the 21st century hinges on new balances of power in East Asia. To engage the issues central to this region of current strategic competition effectively, we must understand their underlying historical origins and context. To plan effective strategy or policy, we must know how these modern histories set the stage for likely futures. By learning about the conflicts of the past one gains the tools to become an agent of peace for the future. In the context of exploring the histories of modern East Asia, students will be introduced to various skills of data analysis, visualization, and presentation that are transferrable to any profession. Students will also cultivate a stronger sense of valuing diversity through development of more nuanced understandings of the shared human experience (as experienced across societies of different regions and eras). 3 credits.