Alibaba, Foxconn, Samsung, Sony: Where did these giants of the industry come from, and where are the economies of East Asia headed? This course will approach the successes of business in East Asia from historical and anthropological viewpoints. In it, we will approach “business” not as a single game with universal rules, but rather as a result of specific historical and cultural processes that precede this century and our own lifetimes. We will spend most of the semester examining contemporary questions or issues in East Asian business; participants will prepare regular position papers concerning those issues, and then debate those issues during the discussion section. In the final phase of the course, participants will form teams that will collaborate in research, finally pitching business plans to the class.

Intended Audience:

Upper-level undergraduates

Class Format:

Two 90-minute lectures in addition to 1-hour discussion section weekly. Frequent in-class exercises, often using video or written primary sources.