The Asian Pacific Rim

The Asian Pacific Rim (PRIM) was a CTY Humanities course that focused on tectonic plates located on the Ring of Fire of the Asian Pacific Rim.

Course Description

From the CTY Course Catalog (2007):

What would happen if China consumed energy and resources at the per capita consumption rate of the United States? Is Japan’s economy still a powerhouse, or is it struggling in the face of increased competition in the region? What challenges will South Korea confront having entered into a free trade agreement with the US? Beyond economic and trade cooperation, how might East Asian countries tackle issues of security, the environment, and health with a multilateral approach? All these questions and more have turned the world’s attention more critically towards the Asian Pacific Rim. Such questions underscore the global significance of the economics and politics of the Asian Pacific Rim.

In this course, students address the current status of and future outlook for Asian Pacific Rim countries. By examining complex issues like economic development, immigration and population growth, colonialism and wartime history, security, and relationships with the US, they learn what connects these countries and what keeps them apart. Through simulations and debates, research, and analytical essays, students examine the political perspectives and developments that have affected and continue to influence Asian nations. In addition, students gain knowledge about regional organizations such as APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). By the end of the course, students are equipped to think critically about the political and economic issues that shape this part of the world.