KSCB055 History of Communism in Asia

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Bc. Denisa Hilbertová, M.A. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Lucie Olivová, MA, Ph.D., DSc.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Bc. Denisa Hilbertová, M.A.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 10:50–12:25 C32
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives (in Czech)
The course covers the origins, events and consequences of historical milestones in Asian Cold War. The course will cover China’ s historical events such as China’ s civil war, Mao’ s policy: Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution and the development after Mao’ s death; America’ s painful lesson in Korea; Vietnam conflict and a tragic rule of Khmer Rouge.
Syllabus (in Czech)
  • 1. Prelude to a disaster – the situation in Asia after the World War II. • Course introduction • The U.S. involvement • Communism in Asia 2. China’s struggle • The fight for China (Communist Party of China x Kuomintang) • The rise of Mao Zedong 3. Mao’ s bright vision • Great Leap Forward – an ‘awesome’ plan • Cultural Revolution – Kill the traitors! 4. China’ s way to superpower • China after Mao – Capitalism with Chinese characteristics (Special Economic Zones, social changes, such as prostitution, women’ s inferiority, minorities, education) • Is Taiwan independent? • Taiwanese miracle 5. Korean War: a Divided Nation • Americas painful lesson • The role of Soviet and American intervention, China’ s entry into the war • The trauma of a Korean nation 6. Nothing to Envy: Life of Ordinary People in North Korea • Kim’s dynasty • Post-war development 7. Vietnam War: Afraid of the Domino Effect • French Indochina: The trouble begins • Cold war comes to the Southeast Asia (The secret war: The CIA in Indochina) • World’ s response 8. Vietnam War: The Reasons for a Failure of American Policy • American presidents and Vietnam: Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon • American withdrawal: Peace with honor? • Full Metal Jacket/Platoon (movie) 9. Vietnam War: Counting the dead • Aftermath of the war (Agent Orange,) • Personal ties (Ho Chi Min, McNamara, Le Duan, Ngo Dinh Diem…) • Trauma of the war (American soldiers, Vietnam: a disabled nation) 10. The Khmer Rouge: Educated? Wearing glasses? Able to speak foreign languages? Older than 40? You do NOT deserve to live! • The Killing fields • Khmer Rouge irony • Pol Pot 11. The Khmer Rouge • Consequences of the Khmer Rouge rule • Movie The Killing Fields 12. Discussion/Overview • The international relations • Social changes in Asia 13. Conclusion
Literature
  • Andrei Lankov. The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia. Oxford University Press, 2013.
  • Philip Short. Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare, London: Henry Holt, 2006.
  • Jung Chang. Wild Swans. Three Daughters of China. London: Touchstone; Reprint edition, 2003.
  • Barbara Demick. Nothing to Envy. Ordinary Lives in North Korea. Spiegel & Grau, 2010.
  • Haign Ngor. Survival in the Killing Fields, Basic Books, 2003
  • Jonathan Spence. Mao Zedong: A Life, London Penguin Books; Reprint edition, 2006.
Teaching methods (in Czech)
Lectures and class discussion
Assessment methods (in Czech)
1. Course attendance - baseline attendance in a course is 75% of classes (3 allowed absences) 2. Class participation accounts for 20% of your grade 3. Term paper
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2015/KSCB055