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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 399B"
COURSE NAME: "Special Topics in Political Science: The Two Koreas in World Politics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: John Patrick Delury
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Junior Standing or Permission of the Instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An in-depth treatment of a current area of special concern in the field of Political Science. Topics may vary.
May be taken more than once for credit with different topics.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT

The course is designed around three pedagogical pillars: lectures by the professor and discussions involving the whole class, presentations by students working in small groups, and individual writing assignments.

 

The first half of the course will feature more lecture time as students are gaining their bearings and familiarity with the material. Lectures will delve deeply into the unique historical context of the Korean Peninsula and the distinctive geopolitical situation that was created by division, war, and decades of hostility and negotiation.

 

In teams, students will give presentations to inform and stimulate class discussion. Topics for student presentations will focus on current topics in Korean Peninsula affairs and world politics, complementing the lecture material focused on the past. Onus will be on all class members to contribute to discussion by listening and sharing their views. At the beginning of the term, students will identify presentation topics in consultation with the professor, using leading analytical platforms as guidance (38 North [Stimson Center], https://www.38north.org/; Beyond Parallel [CSIS], https://beyondparallel.csis.org/, and NK News)

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

LEARNING OUTCOMES

•      Acquire foundational knowledge of the political structure, political culture, and ideology of North Korea and South Korea

•      Examine diametrically opposed case studies in the international political economy of globalization by looking at one of the biggest “winners” (South Korea) and one of the biggest “losers” (North Korea)

•      Gain insights into diplomatic negotiation by studying in detail the complex talks between the two Koreas and international diplomacy surrounding them

•      Attain a new perspective on great power politics and in particular the roles of the United States, China, and Russia, by viewing them in light of strategies of small/middle states caught between them
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
The Two Koreas: A Contemporary HistoryDon Oberdorfer and Robert CarlinBasic Books978-0465031238 2013, 2nd edition
Korea: A New History of South and North Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco-Pardo Yale University Press 978-0300278705  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Presentations In-class presentations on assigned readings and current topics as assigned by the professor. 20
Short written assignmentsCritical response assignments on rolling basis 15
MidtermIn-class midterm examination25
Final examIn-class final written examination30

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

 SCHEDULE

 

Weekly reading assignments of roughly 2 chapters per week will be assigned from the textbooks by Oberdorfer/Carlin and Cha/Pardo. Readings below are supplemental assignments:

 

Week 1: Introductions and Overview

 

Week 2: Methodology—On History, Politics & Korean Studies

-       Andre Schmid, ‘Is A History of North Korea Without Kim Il Sung Possible?’ Library of Congress lecture (2017), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgdPeXAhlVc

-       Minyoung Rachel Lee, “How to Read the North Korean Media,” NK News Podcast (April 23, 2019), https://tinyurl.com/y27x9cb8

 

Week 3: Confucian Legacies

-       Martina Deuchler, “Introduction: Society and Ideology,” The Confucian Transformation of Korea (1992), 1-27.

 

Week 4: Colonial Era: Resistance and Collaboration

-       Suh Dae-sook, “The Rise of Kim Il-Song,” The Korean Communist Movement 1918-1948 (1967), 212-293

 

Week 5: Division [1945-1949]

-       Odd Arne Westad, “Europe’s Asymmetries” and “New Asia,” Cold War: A World History (2017), 71-98; 129-158.

-       Katie Stallard, Dancing on Bones (2022), “Myth”

 

Week 6: War for Reunification [1950-53]

-       Bruce Cumings, “Introduction” and “The Course of the War” in The Korean War: A History (2010), p. xv-35

-       William Stueck, “Why the Korean War? Not the Korean Civil War?” in Rethinking the Korean War: A New Diplomatic and Strategic History (2002), 60-83.

-       “Armistice Agreement,” July 1953.

 

Weeks 7 & 8: Making Dictatorships [1960s & 1970s]

-       Frank Dikotter, How to Be a Dictator (2019), 123-144.

-       Young Chul Chung, “The Suryong System as the Center of Juche Institution,” Origins of North Korea’s Juche, ed. Jae-Jung Suh (2013), 89-117.

 

Week 9: Miracle on the Han/ Theatre State [1980s]

-       Heonik Kwon and Byung-Ho Chung, North Korea: Beyond Charismatic Politics, The Modern Theatre State, 43-70.

-       John Delury, “Feudal Contradictions between Communist Allies:

-Deng Xiaoping, Kim Il Sung and the Problem of Succession, 1976-1984,” Journal of Cold War History (2022)

 

Week 10: Democratization/ Arduous March [1980s & 1990s]

-       Heonik Kwon and Byun-ho Chung, The Great National Bereavement, 1994 & The Modern Theatre State, North Korea: Beyond Charismatic Politics, https://tinyurl.com/y24vusb7 [ebook via Yonsei Library]

 

Week 11: Nuclear Power/ Soft Power [2000s]

-       Siegfried Hecker with Elliot Serbin, Hinge Points (2023)

 

Week 12: Games of Thrones [2010s]

-       Andrei Lankov, “Kim Jong Un’s Survival Strategy,” North Korea: Peace? Nuclear War? (2019), 62-76.

-       John Delury, “What Makes Kim Jong Un Different?,” North Korea: Peace? Nuclear War?, 77-88.

 

Week 13 & 14: Whither the Two Koreas?

 

Week 15: Final examination