This seminar is an introduction to some dimension of the history of a nation, region, people, culture, institution, or historical phenomenon selected by the respective instructor. Students will come to understand, and develop an appreciation for: the origins and evolution of the people, cultures, and/or political, economic, and/or social institutions of a particular region(s) of the world. They may explore how human encounters shaped individual and collective identities and the political, economic, and social orders of the region/nation/communities under study. Instructors prioritize critical reading, engaged participation, and focused writing assignments.

In this seminar, we will examine Chinese approaches to foreign policy across time (from the late Bronze Age through the twentieth century), in the context of an evolving East Asian international order. We will consider alternatives to the "modern" post-Westphalian state system, focusing on both the ideologies underpinning them and the norms of engagement that defined them. With regards to the twentieth century in particular, we will ask whether we can speak of a "Chinese" approach to foreign policy without resorting to trite, essentializing claims. We will also consider specific ways in which the past (e.g. the Zheng He missions) is politicized today. Readings will include both primary sources (in English translation) and secondary scholarship. No prior knowledge of Chinese history is required; students with other regional expertises are encouraged to enroll to offer their comparative perspective.

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Requirements class fulfills