Author:
Charlotte Lee
Subject:
Political Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab, Lecture, Lesson Plan, Reading, Teaching/Learning Strategy
Level:
Community College / Lower Division
Tags:
  • Asian Perspectives
  • Belt and Road Initiative
  • Contemporary China
  • Feminism
  • International Relations
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English
    Media Formats:
    Downloadable docs, Text/HTML, Other

    Feminism and Asian Perspectives in IR Theory

    Overview

    Module on feminist and Asian contributions to international relations theory. Intended for community college students and aligned with the requirements for POLS 140: Introduction to International Relations within the California Community College system. Includes readings, lesson plan, and ancillary materials (lecture slides and handout).

    Lesson Plan: Feminism and Asian Perspectives in International Relations

    Lesson Plan: Feminism and Asian Perspectives

    Topic: Critical Approaches II: Feminism and Asian Perspectives

    Week #: 4

    Estimated Time: 150-180 minutes

     

    Assigned Readings:

    1. Smith, Sarah. 2018. “Feminism in International Relations Theory.” In International Relations Theory, Stephen McGlinchey, ed. Adapted by Charlotte Lee. (9 pages, core reading)
    2. Yeophanton, Pichamon. 2018. “Asian Perspectives on IR Theory.” In International Relations Theory, Stephen McGlinchey, ed. Adapted by Charlotte Lee. (10 pages, core reading)
    3. Pathak, Sriparna. 2015. “The ‘Peace’ in China’s Peaceful Rise.” From https://www.e-ir.info/2015/10/15/the-peace-in-chinas-peaceful-rise/ (4 pages, briefing)
    4. Zhang, Chun. 2019. “China’s Whole-of-Region Diplomacy Revisited: Past Experience and Future Prospects.” China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies 5:1, pp. 15-32. (18 pages, briefing)

     

    Total page count: 41

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this lesson plan, students will be able to:

    1. Define key concepts in two critical international relations theories
    2. Evaluate feminist critiques of dominant international relations theories and feminist contributions to international relations theory
    3. Analyze policy implications of liberal feminist ideas
    4. Evaluate contributions of Asian scholars to international relations theory
    5. Analyze new Chinese approaches to global diplomacy

    Misconceptions of Topic:

    1. Students may see feminism more narrowly as advocacy for females at the expense of males
    2. Students may focus more narrowly on the economic and pop cultural contributions of Asia to the world

     

    Lesson Component

    Ancillary(ies)

    Lecture: Review learning objectives

    Lecture slides

    Brainstorm/write on board: Are you a feminist?

    Lecture slides

    Whiteboard for class discussion of question prompts on slide

    Lecture and discussion: Key concepts in feminism

    Reading 1

    Lecture slides

     

    Online resources:

    Ellen Sirleaf Johnson biography: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2011/johnson_sirleaf/biographical/

     

    Ellen Sirleaf Johnson’s Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Lecture, 2011, URL: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2011/johnson_sirleaf/26166-ellen-johnson-sirleaf-nobel-lecture-2011/

     

    2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipients:

    https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2011/summary/

     

    Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy

    URL: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/priorities-priorites/policy-politique.aspx?lang=eng

     

    Think Pair Share: Respond to Secretary Madeleine Albright’s feminism

    Reading 1

    Lecture slides

     

    Online resource:

    TEDWoman (December 2010), “On being a woman and a diplomat” (Approx. 12:45 minutes)

    URL: https://www.ted.com/talks/madeleine_albright_on_being_a_woman_and_a_diplomat?language=en

     

    Lecture and discussion: Key concepts in Asian perspectives

    Reading 2

    Lecture slides

    Application and discussion: Case study of China’s “peaceful rise,” “whole-of-region diplomacy,” and Belt and Road Initiative

    Readings 3 and 4

    Lecture slides

     

    Instructor resources:

     

    Chatzsky, Andrew and James McBride. 2019. “China’s Massive Belt and Road Initiative.” Council on Foreign Relations Backgrounder. Available online at https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative

     

    Morrison, James. 2019. “China’s Economic Rise.” Congressional Research Service. Available online at https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL33534/98

     

    Conclude and wrap-up

    Lecture slides

     

    Required Readings: Feminism and Asian Perspectives

    Contents:

    • Reading #1: Smith 2018
    • Reading #2: Yeophanton 2018
    • Reading #3: Pathak 2015
    • Reading #4: Zhang 2019

    Introducing the readings:

    This unit’s readings focus on two topics. First, they introduce students to feminist contributions to international relations theory. Second, this unit moves away from the Euro-centric focus of many traditional IR theories to consider Asian perspectives and theoretical contributions. To anchor the study of each, the required reading is an OER textbook chapter. Two additional readings focus more deeply on IR theory developed by Chinese scholars: Pathak (2015) and Zhang (2019).

    Feminism is a leading critical international relations theory. It draws attention to the absence of feminist and other minority perspectives in dominant international relations theories such as realism. Smith (2018) presents an overview of major ideas in feminism as they apply to the study of international relations.

    Yeophanton (2018) offers an overview of IR theories from thinkers based in Asia. China today has also sought to create an alternative international relations theory; Pathak (2015) provides a case study of China’s global claims to a “peaceful rise.” Zhang (2019) writes as a Chinese scholar of IR and considers the ideas underlying China’s global diplomacy.

    Ancillary Materials: Feminism and Asian Perspectives

    Attached are CC-licensed lecture slides and a handout to accompany the lesson plan for a unit on feminism and Asian perspectives.