everything.study
INTL ST 332

EAST ASIA & THE U.S. SINCE 1899

3-4 credits.

From the Boxer Rebellion, to the dropping of the atomic bombs, to the nuclear stand-off with North Korea, American foreign relations with East Asia during the 20th century were as consequential as they were controversial. Survey the issues and questions that alternately made allies and enemies of these nations: How did the quest for markets influence American policy towards China? How did European imperialism shape Japan's rise? Why did communism seem to offer a more compelling economic and political arrangement to China and North Korea? While squarely rooted in East Asia this course will also explore the questions that united and divided Americans over their nation's foreign policy. Through examining these questions, develop answers and construct their own narrative of the relationship between the United States and East Asia.

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities or Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and summarize the important features and major periods in the history of US–East Asian Relations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Identify and summarize the major foreign relations objectives of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and the United States during the major historical periods of the 20th century Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Explain and evaluate how these societies have viewed each other during periods of conflict and cooperation Audience: Undergraduate 4. Describe how people-to-people connections have shaped these relationships beyond their governments intensions Audience: Undergraduate 5. Use historical knowledge to evaluate current trends in the relationships between these states Audience: Undergraduate 6. Identify and summarize major trends and schools of interpretation in the historiography of US-East Asian relations Audience: Graduate 7. Become proficient in the form, style, and conventions of an academic book review Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify and summarize the important features and major periods in the history of US–East Asian Relations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Identify and summarize the major foreign relations objectives of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and the United States during the major historical periods of the 20th century Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Explain and evaluate how these societies have viewed each other during periods of conflict and cooperation Audience: Undergraduate 4. Describe how people-to-people connections have shaped these relationships beyond their governments intensions Audience: Undergraduate 5. Use historical knowledge to evaluate current trends in the relationships between these states Audience: Undergraduate 6. Identify and summarize major trends and schools of interpretation in the historiography of US-East Asian relations Audience: Graduate 7. Become proficient in the form, style, and conventions of an academic book review Audience: Graduate

Sources
Catalogue variants