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150140 VU China’s Belt and Road Initiative (2022S)

Strategic and Economic Impacts on the Indo-Pacific Region

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 15 - Ostasienwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 01.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 08.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 15.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 22.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 29.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 05.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 26.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 03.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 10.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 17.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 24.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 31.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 14.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 21.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 28.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The Indo-Pacific is a new geographic, but even more a geostrategic concept. Responding to the growing economic interdependency and interconnectivity, not least driven by China’s trans-continental Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with its land and maritime component, it geographically enlarges the concept of the Asia-Pacific. Notably the inclusion of India makes China’s influence appear less strong.
Japan was the first country to issue a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, followed by Australia, the United States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and, most recently, the European Union (EU). All these strategies emphasize the need to strengthen the multilateral, rules-based and ASEAN-led regional order and offer the Indo-Pacific nations various opportunities for cooperation, especially in the realm of infrastructure and connectivity to counter the BRI.
As the geographic extent of the Indo-Pacific region is contested, we will follow the broad definitions of Japan and the EU. Accordingly, we will analyze the effects of the BRI and other connectivity schemes on selected countries in Northeast, Southeast, South and Central Asia, the Middle East, East Africa and Oceania. In addition, topics related to the 16+1 cooperation format will be covered as well.

This is a text-based course. In the first five weeks, students will read and analyze various Asian and European Indo-Pacific and China strategies as well as China’s respective strategies, notably the BRI. Even though we will focus on the BRI and its strategic and economic impacts on sub-regions and specific countries, we will also examine the counter-connectivity initiatives of Japan, the US, Australia and the EU (Global Gateway Initiative) and how they impact positively or negatively on socioeconomic development, the political systems and national and regional security.

After the Easter break, students will give presentation on a course-related topic of their choice (20 minutes). Planned are also jointly attending a panel discussion on the Indo-Pacific at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna (in person or online) and a presentation from a diplomat from the Indo-Pacific region in class.

This class will be held on-site. However, in case of new COVID-19 restrictions, we may have to switch to a hybrid or online format. In this case, in order to host an agreeable environment for e-learning, students are advised to:
- Log in a couple of minutes earlier in order to set the internet connection, as well as audio and video settings. The virtual room will be open 10 minutes before class begins
- To facilitate discussions, use your camera. Only if you have a very bad connection, you can set a picture of you as an avatar, but then make sure that you have a reasonable connection at the next meeting
- For optimal audio quality, it is suggested to use headphones
- Mute your microphone when you are not speaking.

Assessment and permitted materials

To receive a positive grade (4 or better), students must successfully complete the following three assignments:

- regularly attending the class and participate actively (20%);
- reading and commenting on three texts, made available via Moodle (500-600 words each; 30%);
- and giving one presentation in class (20 minutes) and submitting a handout (on the day of presentation) and written analysis (2500 words; deadline: 20 August 2022) (50%; all three components of this assignment must be fulfilled).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

During the first session (1.3.2022), the lecturer will explain all minimum requirements and assessment criteria (see “Assessment and permitted materials”). By continuing this course, students accept all minimum requirements and assessment criteria.
Absence at the first session will lead to automatic de-registration from this course.
The final grade will not be affected if the student is absent up to three class sessions. Four absences will result in the final grade being reduced by one full grade; fives absences will be reduced by two full grades. Students with more than five absences will fail the course.
Positive grades (grade 4 or better) for all formal requirements as listed under “Assessment (Art der Leistungskontrolle)” are a minimum requirement for passing this course. Grading is based on a “continuous assessment of coursework” (“Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung”). Repetition of individual assessment criteria, therefore, is not possible.

By successfully completing this course, in accordance with the Curriculum of East Asian Economy and Society (EcoS), students should be able to demonstrate:

- their knowledge of the geostrategic motives behind the new Indo-Pacific concepts and how the various subregions are increasingly interconnected
- their familiarity with different theoretical concepts to analyze the power dynamics and different strategic interests of various actors in the Indo-Pacific region
- their understanding of the importance of infrastructure and connectivity schemes as strategic tools
- their ability to analyze various positive and negative impacts of infrastructure and connectivity projects on the national economic and political systems in the Indo-Pacific.

Note on Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work as your own. This could include direct quotations from sources that you do not properly cite or presenting someone else’s work as your own. Even omitting quotation marks for verbatim quotes is an academic offense. Material from the internet is subject to the same citation requirements as any other material. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism or how to cite properly, please seek guidance from your instructor. You should also refer to https://medienportal.univie.ac.at/uniview/studium-lehre/detailansicht/artikel/copied-and-caught-this-is-how-plagiarism-checks-work/. Penalties for plagiarism will be dealt with in accordance with university rules and practices.

Examination topics

See above.

Reading list

A reading list will be made available on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

WM4

Last modified: Tu 14.01.2025 00:16