The purpose of this course is to examine in depth the contemporary strategic dynamics of the Northeast Asian region. The course will examine the nature and regional impact of the security policies and roles of the four major powers whose interests intersect in Northeast Asia, the implications for regional security of recent developments in America's bilateral alliances with Japan and South Korea and in US relations with China, the interaction between two aspiring regional hegemonies (China and Japan), and possible sources of tension and conflict. The potential consequences of US-sponsored missile defence programs and the management of territorial disputes will be considered.