Lecture 1: Introduction: Research Skills

Recommended Textbook: Patrick O'Neil, Karl J Fields, Don Share, Cases and Concepts in Comparative Politics, 2/E ,2021.

Kenneth Waltz, Man, the State, and War, 1959.

Snyder, R., Bruck, H., Sapin, B., Hudson, V. Foreign Policy Decision-Making, Revisited

Introduction: How to compare; what to compare

James Rosenau. 1968. “Comparative Foreign Policy: Fad, Fantasy or Field?”, International Studies Quarterly 12: 296–329.

Disinformation and Misinformation: academic judgement matters.

SAMUEL RAMANI,  “The Russia-China-DPRK Strategic Triangle: Phantom Threat or Geopolitical Reality?” 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea, JUNE 13, 2024, https://www.38north.org/2024/06/the-russia-china-dprk-strategic-triangle-phantom-threat-or-geopolitical-reality/

To-hai Liou, “China’s Response to the Heightening of Tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” News Commentary, Institute of Chinese Communist Studies(ICCS), February 1, 2024, https://iccs.org.tw/en/NewsContent/144

To-hai Liou,“China Watching As Kim and Putin Pledge Stronger Ties in Pyongyang,” Taiwan Talks, ·June 21, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knalIJNYRgQ

To-hai Liou, Donald Trump’s Diplomatic Grand Strategy and Its Impact on China, ICCS, February 17, 2025, https://iccs.org.tw/en/NewsContent/251

Ryan Hass On Taiwan: Does President Trump seek spheres of influence? The Taipei Times, June 9, 2025, p.8, https://zh.cn.nikkei.com/politicsaeconomy/commodity/59038-2025-06-09-09-33-41.html

Monica Duffy Toft, The Return of Spheres of Influence: Will Negotiations Over Ukraine Be a New Yalta Conference That Carves Up the World?, Foreign Affairs, July/August 2025, March 13, 2025, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/return-spheres-influence?s=EUZZZ005ZX&utm_medium=newsletters&utm_source=summer_reads&utm_campaign=summer_reads_2025&utm_content=20250629&utm_term=EUZZZ005ZX

HEATHER A. CONLEY  The Arctic Great Game And Why America Risks Losing It Foreign Affairs July/August 2025,  June 24, 2025 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/arctic-great-game-conley?check_logged_in=1

Lecture 2: Evolution of Comparative Foreign Policies

ch. 1 & ch. 2. in G. Bingham J. Powell, Jr., Russell J. Dalton, Kaare Strom, Comparative Politics Today: A World View, 11^th Edition, Pearson Education Limited, 2015. 雙葉書廊http://www.yehyeh.com.tw/bookeng.aspx?mode=dbview&sysid=00107184

James N. Rosenau, "Pre-theories and Theories of Foreign Policy," Barry R. Farrel, Approaches to Comparative and International Politics, Evanston: Northwestern University Press, 1966.

Maurice A. East and Charles F. Hermann, Why Nations Act: Theoretical Perspectives for Comparative Foreign Policy Studies, Beverly Hills, Sage Publications, 1978.

The China Challenge in Critical Minerals: The Case for Asymmetric Resilience, The Diplomat, June 6, 2025, https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/the-china-challenge-in-critical-minerals-the-case-for-asymmetric-resilience/

Lecture 3: Two major strategies are used in comparative research

James N. Rosenau, "Comparing Foreign Policies: Why, What, How," James N. Rosenau (ed.) Comparing Foreign Policies: Theories, Findings, and Methods, New York: Sage Publications, 1974, pp. 3-22. [327.072C738; 260319] http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~fczagare/PSC%20504/Rosenau.pdf

According to Adam Przeworski and Henry Teune, there are two different kinds of comparative analysis: a comparative study of two similar systems (Australia vs. Canada) vs. a comparative study of two most different systems (US vs. North Korea)

Lecture 4:

Challenges for the 21st century decision makers

Disinformation

Priorities clash

Trump's 'Asia prioritizers' suffer setback with Israel-Iran clash, Nikkei Asia, June 17, 2025, https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Trump-administration/Trump-s-Asia-prioritizers-suffer-setback-with-Israel-Iran-clash

Hermann, Margaret G., Charles F. Hermann and Joe D. Hagan. 1987. “How Decision Units Shape Foreign Policy Behavior”, in Charles F. Hermann, Charles W. Kegley Jr. and James N. Rosenau (eds.), New Directions in the Study of Foreign Policy

Lecture 5: Vertical comparative analysis

Joanna Spear and Phil Williams, “Belief Systems and Foreign Policy: the Cases of Carter and Reagan, in Richard Little and Steve Smith, Belief Systems and International Relations, New York: Basil Blackwell Inc., 1988, pp. 190-208.

Roy C. Macridis (ed.) Foreign Policy in World Politics (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 8th edition, 1992.

To-hai Liou, “U.S.-South Korea Relations under Kim Dae-jung and Beyond,” Tamkang Journal of International Affairs（淡江國際研究期刊）, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2005, pp. 51-87.

“Korean Battery Faces Crisis in Terms of Technology, Price Competitiveness and Investment,” Businesskorea, August 8, 2024,https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=222698

Lecture 6: Horizontal comparative analysis example

Thorsten Wojczewski Theorizing Far-Right Foreign Policy: Insights From Germany, Political Studies,Volume 73, Issue 3 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00323217241284195

To-hai Liou, “Sino-US Strategic Tit-for-tat in Middle East and Saudi Hedging Strategy,” August 14, 2023, Institute of Chinese Communist Studies, https://iccs.org.tw/NewsContent/92

To-hai Liou, “The U.S.-China Race on the Great Chessboard is Undergoing Major Structural Changes,” News Commentary, Institute of Chinese Communist Studies, August 31, 2023, https://iccs.org.tw/NewsContent/100

Timur Dadabaev, “Chinese and Japanese Foreign Policies towards Central Asia from a Comparative Perspective,” The Pacific Review, 2014 Vol. 27, No. 1, 123–145, http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rpre20

Lecture 7: Divided Nations Diplomacy: Taiwan vs. South Korea

To-hai Liou, 2015, “A Comparative Study of Sibling Policy of the Divided Nations: Taiwan versus South Korea,” The Journal of International Relations, No. XXXVIIII, pp. 107-151.

Divided Nations Diplomacy: North Korea vs. South Korea

To-hai Liou, " North Korea’s Diplomatic Strategies in the Post-Cold War Era: Fishing in the Troubled Water," International Journal of Korean Unification Studies, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2001, pp. 79-103. http://www.kinu.or.kr/report/report_02_01.jsp?page=2&num=38&mode=view&field=&text=&order=&dir=&bid=DATA03&ses=&category=11

Lecture 8: Middle Power Diplomacy: Australia vs. Canada

Is the Northeast Indian Ocean Really in Australia’s ‘Immediate Region’?, The Diplomat, August 1, 2024,https://thediplomat.com/2024/08/is-the-northeast-indian-ocean-really-in-australias-immediate-region/

"A free and open Indo-Pacific: With a single phrase, Shinzo Abe changed America's view of Asia and China,” CNN, July 21, 2022, https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/20/asia/shinzo-abe-legacy-china-japan-indo-pacific-intl-hnk/index.html

"Jacinda Ardern Strikes a Softer Tone on China," The Diplomat, August 2, 2022, https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/jacinda-ardern-strikes-a-softer-tone-on-china/            

"The China-Australia Relationship Is Still Close to the Rocks,” foreign policy, JULY 6, 2023, https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/06/china-australia-diplomacy-sanctions/

"Australia’s China Strategy Under the Labor Party," The Diplomat, August 5, 2022,https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/australias-china-strategy-under-the-labor-party/     

"New Zealand Will Not Join the US Coalition Against China Anytime Soon," The Diplomat, July 6, 2022,https://thediplomat.com/2022/07/new-zealand-will-not-join-the-us-coalition-against-china-anytime-soon/

"Albanese shows our strategic die is cast in American mould,” The Australian Financial Review, June 3, 2023,https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/albanese-s-shangri-la-s-address-shows-strategic-die-is-cast-in-american-mould-20230530-p5dccf

To-hai Liou, "Deciphering Communist China’s South Pacific Policy via Comparing China’s Negotiation Approaches to Australia and New Zealand," News Commentary, Institute of Chinese Communist Studies, July 10, 2023, https://iccs.org.tw/NewsContent/84

Richard Heydarian, “Australia must seize chance to reset relations with ASEAN states,” Nikkei Asia, September 1, 2022, https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Australia-must-seize-chance-to-reset-relations-with-ASEAN-states

“Editorial: Australia and Japan set to play Chinese trump card on Pacific trade alliance,” The Age, November 10, 2017, http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/australia-and-japan-set-to-play-chinese-trump-card-on-pacific-trade-alliance-20171110-gzj1ja.html

Geoff Raby, "Labor must learn China is not going away," The Australian Financial Review, July 13, 2022,https://www.afr.com/world/asia/labor-must-learn-china-is-not-going-away-20220712-p5b132

Ben Scott , "What is Australia’s plan B for China?," The Australian Financial Review, July 15, 2022, https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/what-is-australia-s-plan-b-for-china-20220714-p5b1ih

Kim Nossal, "Middle Power Diplomacy in the Changing Asia-Pacific Order: Australia and Canada Compared," in Richard Leaver and James L. Richardson (eds) The Post-Cold War Order:Diagnoses and Prognoses, Allen & Unwin Australia Pty Ltd., 1993, pp. 210-223. [327.17P857;707624]

To-hai Liou, "A Comparative Study of Australia-Taiwan Relations and Australia-South Korea Relations since the 1990s," Journal of East Asian Affairs , Spring/Summer 2002, pp.172-191.

Andrew F. Cooper, Richard A. Higgott and Kim Nossal, Relocating Middle Powers: Australia and Canada in a Changing World Order, UBC Press, 1993.John W. Garver, “The China-India-U.S. Triangle: Strategic Relations in the Post-Cold War Era,” NBR(National Bureau of Asian Research)Analysis: Vol. 13, No. 5, October 2002, pp. 1-10.

Tom Keating, Canada and World Order: the Multilateralist Tradition in Canadian Foreign Policy, 2^nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2002, pp. 1-16.

John Kirton, “Creating the North American Community: Canada, NAFTA and Regional Economic Integration,” Taiwanese Journal of WTO Studies, Vol. 12, pp. 41-92. http://www.wtostudy.nccu.edu.tw/publication/wtojn12/wtojn12%5B2%5D.html

Mark Manger, “Negotiating Asymmetry: Canada's Experience in the NAFTA Negotiations and Beyond,” Taiwanese Journal of WTO Studies, Vol. 12, pp. 125-151. http://www.wtostudy.nccu.edu.tw/publication/wtojn12/wtojn12.html

Lecture 9: Indian Foreign Policy

Amit Kumar, "India is well placed to become the 'next China' and drive global growth," Nikkei Asia, August 9, 2024,https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/India-is-well-placed-to-become-the-next-China-and-drive-global-growth

Akhil Ramesh, "Make in India" relies on "Made in China," White paper,  13 May 2025, Hinrich Foundation,  https://share.google/YDzAuOGm0JwFGLuyI

"Indian Foreign Policy Under Narendra Modi: A Decade of Transformation," The Diplomat, July 1, 2024,https://thediplomat.com/2024/06/indian-foreign-policy-under-narendra-modi-a-decade-of-transformation/

Ashoka Mody, "Unlike China, India cannot be an economic superpower," The Taipei Times, August 1, 2023, p. 9, https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2023/08/01/2003804047

"Inside Apple's India dream," Nikkei Asia, August 2, 2023, https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-Big-Story/Inside-Apple-s-India-dream

"Foxconn to invest $600m in India to make iPhone components, chip equipment," Nikkei Asia, August 3, 2023,   https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/Foxconn-to-invest-600m-in-India-to-make-iPhone-components-chip-equipment

Powell, Dalton and Strom, Comparative Politics Today:11^th Edition, ch. 17.

John W. Garver, “The China-India-U.S. Triangle: Strategic Relations in the Post-Cold War Era,” NBR(National Bureau of Asian Research)Analysis: Vol. 13, No. 5, October 2002, pp. 1-10.

Sarah Y. Tong, “Comparing Trade Performance of China and India,” East Asian Policy (the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore): Jan-March 2009. Vol. 1, No. 1; pp. 60-73.

J.N.Dixit, “Indian Foreign Policy and National Security Challenges,” Taiwanese Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 1, 2007, pp. 1-12.

Rohit Lamba and Raghuram Rajan, Modi’s Middling Economy: How Inequality, Unemployment, and Slow Growth Hold India Back, Foreign Affairs, May 28, 2024, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/modis-middling-economy

Lecture 10:  A Comparative Study of India-Taiwan Economic Relations and India-South Korea Economic Relations

Brahma Chellaney, "India is losing interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization', Nikkei Asia, June 28, 2024, https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/India-is-losing-interest-in-the-Shanghai-Cooperation-Organization

"India PM Modi tells Putin in Moscow 'peace is of utmost importance', Nikkei Asia, July 10, 2024, https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/India-PM-Modi-tells-Putin-in-Moscow-peace-is-of-utmost-importance 

Warning signs are flashing over India's financial excesses, Nikkei Asia, July 9, 2024, https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Warning-signs-are-flashing-over-India-s-financial-excesses

"Foxconn withdraws from $19.5bn chip JV with India's Vedanta, Nikkei Asia, July 10, 2023, In 2022, https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tech/Semiconductors/Foxconn-withdraws-from-19.5bn-chip-JV-with-India-s-Vedanta

第二十期(2011)目錄http://www.wtostudy.nccu.edu.tw/publication/wtojn20/wtojn20.html

C. Raja Mohan, “Indian Foreign Policy In the Post-Cold War Era,” Taiwanese Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 1, 2007, pp. 13-26.

India's Japan-backed bullet train project gathers speed, Nikkei Asia, April 7, 2023,https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/India-s-Japan-backed-bullet-train-project-gathers-speed

Swaran Singh, “Factoring Taiwan in India's 'Look East' Policy: A Strategic Perspective,” Taiwanese Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 1, 2007, pp. 27-50.

Ashutosh Misra, “Emerging Trends in India-ASEAN Cooperation in Fighting Terrorism,” Taiwanese Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 1, 2007, pp. 67-98.

Sudhir T. Devare, India and Southeast Asia: Towards Security Convergence (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2006. http://www.bilaterals.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=159

Jojin V. John, “From Strategic Partnership to Special Strategic Partnership: India-South Korea Relations in 21^st Century,” The Journal of International Relations, No. XXXXIII, 2017, pp. 49-70.

Biswajit Nag and Debashis Charaborty, “India’s approach to Asian Economic Integration,” Taiwanese Journal of WTO Studies, Vol.V,  2006, pp. 67-127.

Lecture 11: ASEAN between the two Superpowers

To-hai Liou,“Why the U.S. is Concerned About China and Cambodia's Ream Naval Base,”Taiwan Talks, June 19, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c4d_5ffU7s

To-hai Liou,“China Unveils Its Next-Generation Aircraft Carrier Fujian,”Taiwan Talks, January 17, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5534zSPkGXw

Lecture 11: Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia

Vietnam’s Relations with Taiwan, South Korea, Japan in a comparative analysis

"Indonesia's EV drive faces geopolitical headwinds," Nikkei Asia, July 8, 2024,https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Indonesia-s-EV-drive-faces-geopolitical-headwinds

To-hai Liou,“Vietnam's 'Bamboo Diplomacy:' Balancing Act Between China, U.S. ,”Taiwan Talks, December 22, 2023,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc-Q5gtKi40

Carlyle A. Thayer, “Australia-Vietnam Relations: Enhancing the Comprehensive Partnership” Taiwanese Journal of Australian Studies, Vol. 11, 2015, pp. 1-51.

Lecture 12: Middle  East and Northeast Asia

To-hai Liou,“2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar and Northeast Asia Economic Relations,” Taiwanese Journal of WTO Studies, Volume XXXVII, 2024, pp. 1-34.

To-hai Liou, “Shifting Global Power Landscape due to Rising Middle East Oil Producing Countries: Implications for China,” News Commentary, Institute of Chinese Communist Studies(ICCS), January 9, 2024, https://iccs.org.tw/en/NewsContent/136

To-hai Liou, “The U.S.-China Race on the Great Chessboard is Undergoing Major Structural Changes,” News Commentary, Institute of Chinese Communist Studies, August 31, 2023, https://iccs.org.tw/NewsContent/100

Lecture 13: German Foreign Policy

To-hai Liou, 2022, Chapter 4: The Romance of Three Economic Blocs: EU-China Economic Relations Evolving in an Era of Uncertainty, in Dean Karalekas, Fu-kuo Liu and Csaba Moldicz (eds) Middle-Power Responses to China’s BRI and America’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, Emerald Publishing Limited, 53–72.  https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/doi/10.1108/9781801170239

Pai Ching Liu,“Merkel’s Russian Policy: The Fourth and Last Term of Chancellorship (2017-2021),” Taiwanese Journal of WTO Studies, Volume XXXVII, 2024, pp. 35-84.

"Russian gas cuts threaten to shut down Germany industry," The Australian Financial Review, July 19, 2022, https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/russian-gas-cuts-threaten-to-shutter-germany-industry-20220719-p5b2ne

"German industry under pressure to pivot from China," The Australian Financial Review, August 14, 2022, https://www.afr.com/world/europe/german-industry-under-pressure-to-pivot-from-china-20220811-p5b91c

"China is steadily wiping out German industry," Nikkei Asia, June 30, 2022,https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-is-steadily-wiping-out-German-industry?dicbo=v2-f300501fd897c254db30d0d36cf29b4f

Lecture 14:    V4 and Northeast Asia

To-hai Liou, 2022, Prospects for South Korea’s Economic Relations with Hungary and Poland under President Yoon Suk-yeol," Taiwanese Journal of WTO Studies, No. 35, 39-73。

To-hai Liou, 2022, South Korea and V4 in a New Asia-EU Era: Hungary and Poland as Dual Manufacturing Hubs, in the OBIC Book Series volume titled "Eurasia: An Emerging Concept?" Vol. 12, Oriental Business and Innovation Center, Budapest Business School, pp. 97-113. https://www.obic-bbs.hu/vol-12/

"Hungary's Orban huddles with Xi on Ukraine during surprise China visit," Nikkei Asia, July 8, 2024, https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Hungary-s-Orban-huddles-with-Xi-on-Ukraine-during-surprise-China-visit

To-hai Liou,“A Comparative Study of Hungary’s Economic Relations with Both Sides of Taiwan Straits,” Taiwanese Journal of WTO Studies, Volume XXXVII, 2024, pp. 85-118.

Lecture 15:   Oral Presentation (20 minutes for each presenter, ten minutes for each presentation, 10 minutes for Q&A) 

Lecture 16: Oral Presentation (20 minutes for each presenter, ten minutes for each presentation, 10 minutes for Q&A)

References:

Ryan K Beasley, Juliet Kaarbo, Foreign policy in Comparative Perspective: Domestic and International Influences on State Behavior, 2nd Edition, CQ Press, 2012.

Grade will be based upon 1. Mid-term exam (40%); 2. individual paper presentation (20%); 3. written paper (30%) plus 4. class performance and participation(10%).