International Political Economy
International Relations
Comparative Area Studies with a Focus on Africa and Asia

Once students have acquired adequate knowledge about the key concepts and divergent perspectives in the discipline in question, my emphasis would be on the cultivation of their independent thinking skills through open discussions and debates in class. I would like to implant in them the love for the pursuit of knowledge by meticulously training them in the use of their own intellectual powers. The goal is also to broaden their understanding of the major issues in the discipline and let them appreciate the notion that critical thinking is desirable, that it is possible, and that it is even fun. By using such an approach, I realize that I could additionally create the context for them to learn from one another. In this way, I hope that they would be able to discover by themselves a whole new intellectual world under my stimulation. In my courses, we shall highlight the role of cultural forces in human affairs; and, from time to time, the experience of Global Africa and Asia will receive particular attention.