Politics and International Relations of East Asia

Entry requirements

Months of entry

September

Course content

Explore the dynamic politics of East Asia and its growing impact on global affairs with our MA in Politics and International Relations of East Asia. This programme offers a region-specific, research-led, and policy-relevant education, grounded in the latest developments across East Asia and with a special focus on Europe-China relations. You will examine how East Asia is emerging as a driving force in global power shifts, while gaining critical insights into the evolving relationships between China, the European Union, the UK, and other major international actors.

You’ll critically engage with the political, economic, and cultural forces shaping East Asia today, from local political movements to the strategic competition between China and the United States. Drawing on the expertise of leading scholars in the School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA) and the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS), the course equips you with the analytical tools and conceptual frameworks needed to understand the region in a global context.

With a strong focus on critical thinking, global awareness, and policy engagement, the programme offers a unique combination of in-depth regional knowledge and transferable skills. You will have the flexibility to tailor your studies with optional modules that reflect your interests, including other world regions (Europe and the Middle East), advanced IR theory, international organisation, and global political economy.

Apart from the formal curriculum, you will have the opportunity to benefit from a range of cultural resources uniquely offered by Durham that will enhance your regional knowledge. This includes non-credit-bearing language courses in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean offered by The Centre for Foreign Language Study, various cultural and language exchange events offered by Teikyo University of Japan in Durham (TUID), and the Oriental Museum, the only museum in the north of England dedicated exclusively to the art and archaeology of Asia and Northern Africa. These resources, while optional, offer invaluable opportunities to deepen your understanding of East Asia outside the formal classroom setting.

Graduates of this programme are well prepared for careers in government, international organisations, think tanks, NGOs, journalism, academia, and the private sector. As the UK and other global actors place increasing emphasis on understanding China and East Asia, this MA offers timely and highly sought-after expertise.

Your learning journey begins with a comprehensive introduction to the key concepts, theories, and debates in East Asian politics and international relations. This is complemented by two other core modules. The module on research methodology will help you to develop a critically reflective and culturally sensitive approach to studying global politics, especially in non-Western contexts. The module on contemporary Europe-China relations will enable you to engage with real-world policy challenges and develop practical research skills relevant to employers.

Year 1 modules

The Politics of East Asia

provides an advanced understanding of key concepts and theories in the international politics of Pacific Asia. You will explore the power relationships between key players in the region, and develop an in-depth understanding of how their domestic politics play a role in these. The module also equips you with the skills to critically evaluate leading scholarship in the field of Pacific Asian international politics, and to develop an advanced understanding of strategic politics and how this shapes foreign policy thinking and behaviour.

Europe-China Relations in a Changing World

aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving political, economic, and strategic relations between China and Europe (with a focus on EU institutions, EU member states, and the UK) within shifting global power dynamics. The module explores how a range of factors such as political processes, ideational differences, environmental issues, and emerging technologies shape the political and economic relationship between China and Europe, while also engaging with broader geopolitical contexts such as the US-China competition and Russia’s challenge to the European security order. In addition to developing advanced conceptual and analytical insight, the module also equips students with practical skills in policy research, briefing, and analysis. Through engagement with real-world cases, students will learn how to critically assess policy documents, conduct stakeholder analysis, and communicate findings in formats relevant to policymakers and professionals.

Researching the Global South

engages you with key practical, theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues that research in and on the Global South entails. It introduces you to social and political science research methods most commonly used to analyse political, social, and economic developments in the Global South, drawing on examples and conceptual understandings from all branches of social sciences including sociology, political science, geography, and anthropology.

Dissertation

is a substantial piece of independent work in a related aspect politics and/or international relations as it relates to East Asia. The 10,000-word dissertation is the culmination of the MA, bringing together elements of learning from across the course.

In recent years, optional modules have included:

• Contemporary Political Philosophy
• The Politics of Global Europe
• Ideologies and Political Thought
• International Politics of the Middle East
• International Relations Theory
• International Organisations

Information for international students

If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

Fees and funding

For further information see the course listing.