War and Peace in Asia

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course focuses on the historical contexts of conflicts and resolutions in East Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries. Focusing primarily on China, Japan, and Korea, weekly readings will examine the many ways in which war—and the discourse about war—shaped those nations’ identities. The connections among militarism, nationalism, and society will be explored in a number of ways: through state-building enterprises, emerging social and cultural practices and values, everyday life during wartime and peace; and collective memorializations. Course materials include literary works, historical writings, and other cultural forms, such as art and film.