150125 VU VU Regionalism, Institutions and Transnational Crimes in East Asia (2021W)

This course aims to introduce students to the definition, problems and consequences posed by Transnational Organized Crime and the most prominent forms that it takes in East Asia.

By successfully completing this course, in accordance with the Curriculum of East Asian Economy and Society (EcoS), students should be able to:
- Familiarize themselves with the different types of Transnational Organized Crime as defined by the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto; namely: Drug Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Smuggling of Migrants, Illicit Arm Trade, Trafficking of Natural Resources and Cybercrime, among others.
- Show their ability to understand key concepts part of the debate on Transnational Crimes and the different coordinated responses that could be articulated among countries in East Asia and regional institutions, such as ASEAN.
- Show understanding key concepts from International Relations Theory that relate to Transnational Organized Crime
- Demonstrate their knowledge of the different stakeholders and mechanisms involved in international cooperation on Transnational Organized Crime, and
- Show a critical attitude towards the formation of an institutional response in East Asia that addresses the most prominent threats product of Transnational Organized Criminal Networks.

This is a text-based course. That means that everyone is expected to attend the online class having completed the required readings, ready to participate. For the first part of the course, students will get an overview of the Transnational Organized Crime debate and the UN Convention against Organized Crimes with its subsequent Protocols. Students will also learn to apply a multidisciplinary approach that relies strongly on methodology from Political Science (IR Theory). Therefore, this section will also review the role and effectiveness of international institutions, as well as existing frameworks of cooperation that could apply to tackle the threat of Transnational Crime. The second part of the course will delve into the characteristics of the Contemporary (East)Asian Transnational Organized Crime and the existing challenges to the implementation of a regional response. Although the course includes a list of text to prepare for in-class discussions, students are strongly encouraged to research and read additional academic literature to enrich the discussion of each unit.

Due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19 measures, the course will be taught digitally. All compulsory activities will be held over Moodle in a mix of synchronous and asynchronous methods. Each week of class will include activities either in the form of a webinar (synchronous), video content or other online methods for students to prepare asynchronously.

There will be three presence meetings in campus for students to engage with their peers and lecturer in person. This will apply to those students who are in Vienna and who do not have any limitations to attend classes in person. A previous registration will take place to confirm the attendance for each meeting.

Those in Vienna unable to attend should fall under one of the following categories: Risk group members as defined by the COVID-19 Risk Group Regulation of the Minister of Health, living, or caring in the same household with such persons, and students with restrictions on travel (regional/national) or in segregation (quarantine) at the time of the meeting.