Macquarie University

History of War and Conflict in Asia - PICX214

This course introduces students to key events and processes related to war and conflict in Asia’s history, with a particular focus on the twentieth century. Students will analyze the causes, course, and consequences of particular wars, including World War II in the Pacific theatre, the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. They will consider more general patterns of conflict in the region associated with broader political processes such as decolonization, the Cold War, and changing Great Power dynamics. And they will gain some understanding of Australia’s involvement in these wars and conflicts, and the significance of this history for Australian security and defence policy today. In covering this course content, students will also gain an appreciation for various frames of thinking used by historians to develop arguments about war and peace in world politics, including change vs. continuity, structure vs. agency, and material power vs. the power of ideas and culture. Such frames of thinking will complement the methods, theories, and approaches used in other Security Studies courses, allowing students to further develop their own analytical toolboxes.