Borders and borderlands in modern Asia

Cod y Modiwl: HYM5920
Teitl y Modiwl: Borders and borderlands in modern Asia
Blwyddyn Academaidd: 2026/2027
Semester: Semester 2
Cyd-gysylltydd y Modiwl: Dr Yi Li
Rhestr Ddarllen: Gweld ar Aspire
Staff Eraill sy'n Cyfrannu: Dr Yi Li; Dr David Jones; Dr David Ballantyne

Dulliau Asesu

Math o Asesiad	Manylion Asesiad	Cyfran
Asesiad Semester	Written Essay 1: 3000 Words	50%
Asesiad Semester	Written Essay 2: 3000 Words	50%
Asesiad Ailsefyll	Written Essay 1: 3000 Words	50%
Asesiad Ailsefyll	Written Essay 2: 3000 Words	50%

Canlyniadau Dysgu

Wedi cwblhau'r modiwl dylai'r myfyrwyr fedru:

Demonstrate a critical understanding of current approaches to and ongoing debates on borders and borderlands in the context of modern Asia.
Engage in close reading of primary or secondary sources and place them in their intellectual context in overland and maritime Asia.
Marshal and understand the use of appropriate evidence in formulating historical arguments regarding the historical development of borders and borderlands.
Demonstrate through written work an ability to integrate methodological themes into their own research.

Disgrifiad cryno

What is a border? Who defines borders? And what crosses borders? This module will examine the demarcation, regulation and confrontation of imperial and national borders in Asia between the late seventeenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Starting from a hotly debated notion of ‘Zomia’ (Scott, 2009), or the high plateau that falls outside of the sphere of state power, we will explore diplomatic missions in the seventeenth century, frontier wars in the colonial era, and marginal communities and trans-border smugglings up to the mid-twentieth century. These cases allow us to cover a wide and diverse area in mainland and maritime Asia, from the landmasses in northeast Asia, the high mountains between India and China, to islands in the South China Sea. Working on a selected number of translated primary sources and a rich body of historiography, we will interrogate the porous nature of borders. We will also ask how borders and borderlands shaped historical movements of peoples and goods, and to what extent they are responsible for the on-going international and internal conflicts today.

Cynnwys

Seminars

Introduction: territories, frontiers, sovereignties

What is a border? Individual accounts from late Imperial China

Demarcating the border (1): Kingdoms in mainland Southeast Asia

Demarcating the border (2): Frontier wars of British India

Communities across the border (1): ‘Hill tribes’ of the Himalayas

Communities across the border (2): ‘Sea gypsies’ in the South China Sea

Goods across the border (1): Overland caravan trade

Goods across the border (2): Smuggling by sea

Regulating national borders in post-war Boneo/Kalimantan

Review: Conflict and integration

Sgiliau Modiwl

Math o Sgiliau	Manylion Sgiliau
Cyfathrebu	Written communication skills will be developed through the coursework and written examination; skills in oral presentation will be developed in seminars but are not formally assessed.
Datblygu personol a chynllunio gyrfa	Students will develop a range of transferable skills, including time management and communication skills, which may help them identify their personal strengths as they consider potential career paths.
Datrys Problemau	Identify problems and factors which might influence potential solutions; develop creative thinking approaches to problem solving; evaluate advantages and disadvantages of potential solutions.
Gwaith Tim	Students will be expected to play an active part in group activities (e.g. group presentations or discussions in seminars) and to learn to evaluate their own contribution to such activities.
Gwella dysgu a pherfformiad ei hun	Students will learn to adapt to studying a range of sources and countries through the central theme of the module. Students will be advised on how to improve research and communication skills through the individual tutorial providing feedback on submitted coursework.
Sgiliau pwnc penodol	By investigating the origin of national borders, students are encouraged to think critically about on-going conflicts along political, ethnic and social boundaries in the world today.
Sgiliau ymchwil	Students will develop their research skills by reading a range of texts and evaluating their usefulness in preparation for the coursework.
Technoleg Gwybodaeth	Students will be encouraged to locate suitable material on the web and to apply it appropriately to their own work. Students will also be expected to word-process their work and make use of Blackboard and other internet tools.

Nodau

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn cydymffurfio a FfCChC Lefel 7