International Relations of Southeast Asia
Min Shu
Autumn Term 2025
School of International Liberal Studies
Waseda University
The materials contained in this webpage are intended for teaching purpose ONLY.
Pls do NOT quote, link or redistribute without the consent of the course instructor.
updated on 29 October 2025
Overview / Lecture Notes / Contact / Links
Overview
Southeast Asia is playing a special role in today's world because of its strategic geopolitical location, state-centred economic development, dynamic regional cooperation, and large Muslim population. To help students better understand the dynamics of this important region, this course explores the historical evolution and the recent development of international relations in Southeast Asia.The course is divided into three parts. The first part examines the historical legacies of international relations in Southeast Asia during the early historical, colonial, and cold war periods. The second part discusses the contemporary challenges facing Southeast Asia: geopolitical transformation, economic crisis, human rights, domestic and regional security. The third part looks further into the regional context of Southeast Asia: the engagement with China and Japan, the bilateral relationship with the US, and the ongoing multilateral region-building process. After these thematic topics, the final lecture considers the theoretical implications of Southeast Asian experiences in light of the existing literature on international relations.
While the course is based on lecture, in-class discussion is strongly encouraged. In addition, each student is required to write a term paper on the topics assigned towards the end of the course. The evaluation is based on class attendance, the participation in group discussion, and the quality of the term paper.
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Lecture Notes
- Week 1: Introduction and Guidance
- Week 2: The Early History of Southeast Asia
- Week 3: Pre-Colonial Southeast Asia and the Tribute System
- Week 4: Southeast Asia and the Cold War
Contact
- Email: min.shu(at)waseda.jp
- Office Hours:lunchtime on Tuesday and Thursday
(advance appointment required!)
- Office: Rm. 1455, Building 11, Waseda Campus
- Tel: 03-3208-8499
Links
Southeast Asian Countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs Regional Organizations
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