Stanford University

What to do about tensions in Asia

Karl Eikenberry, the William J. Perry Fellow for International Studies at CISAC, joins a panel discussion hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations about tensions in the Asia Pacific. The Jan. 28 event covered disputed islands in the East China and South China seas, their impact on U.S. interests, and recommendations for U.S. policy in terms of preventing military escalation in the region and how to respond if prevention fails.

Watch the event here.

Karl Eikenberry William J. Perry Fellow in International Security at CISAC, CDDRL, TEC, and Shorenstein APARC Distinguished Fellow; and Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and Retired U.S. Army Lt. General Speaker
Panel Discussions

A Relationship Transformed: Rethinking the Prospects for Conflict and Peace in the Taiwan Strait

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Abstract: 

After long being viewed as potential flashpoint, relations across the Taiwan Strait have stabilized tremendously in recent years, reflecting moderation in the approaches both Beijing and Taipei have taken with regard to the cross-Strait sovereignty dispute. In my presentation, I consider whether this new-found stability in the Taiwan Strait is likely to persist. In particular, I consider how fundamental trends in cross-Strait relations—such as rapidly growing Chinese military power and deepening cross-Strait economic exchange—are affecting the likelihood that the conflict scenarios which worried analysts prior to the current détente will re-emerge as future concerns. My analysis suggests that the relationship across the Taiwan Strait is likely to be more stable in the years ahead than was the case in the years preceding 2008; this conclusion holds even if there is a change in ruling party in Taiwan. But I also emphasize that the cross-Strait relationship has not been fundamentally transformed, and that the potential for serious conflict remains. 

Speaker Bio: 

Scott L. Kastner is Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland, College Park. Kastner’s research interests include China’s foreign relations, the international politics of East Asia, and international political economy. His book, Political Conflict and Economic Interdependence across the Taiwan Strait and Beyond, was published in the Studies in Asian Security series by Stanford University Press (2009). His work has also appeared in journals such as International Security, Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Studies Quarterly, Comparative Political Studies, Security Studies, and Journal of Peace Research. Kastner received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego. 

Oksenberg Conference Room

Scott L. Kastner Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies Speaker Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland, College Park
Seminars

FSI scholars examine evolution of democracy in South Korea, Taiwan

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In a new book, FSI's Gi-Wook Shin and Larry Diamond analyze the challenges and opportunities confronting the maturing democracies in South Korea and Taiwan. Much depends on the political leadership in those two countries rising above narrow interests to craft thoughtful and realistic public policies.
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<i>The Act of Killing (Director's Cut)</i> Film Screening and Panel Discussion

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*This event is free and open to the public.*

 

PANELISTS

Don Emmerson - Director of the Southeast Asia Forum, Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center; Affiliated Scholar, Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies; Affiliated Faculty, CDDRL

Erik Jensen - Professor of the Practice of Law, Stanford Law School; Senior Advisor for Governance and Law, The Asia Foundation; Senior Research Scholar, CDDRL; Director, Rule of Law Program, Stanford Law School

Norman Naimark - Director of the Stanford Global Studies Division; Professor of History

Diane H. Steinberg (Panel Chair) - Visiting Scholar at Stanford's Program on Human Rights, Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL)

 

 
The Act of Killing visits former Indonesian death squad killers who wreaked havoc in 1965 and 1966 in the aftermath of Indonesia's military coup and yet have never been held accountable for slaughtering between 200,000 to 2 million people in a genocide often forgotten.  The dramatic reenactments of the murders in the documentary catalyze an unexpected emotional journey for Anwar Congo from arrogance to regret as he confronts for the first time in his life the full implications of what he has done.
 
The Act of Killing is an award-winning documentary film directed by Joshua Oppenheimer with co-director Christine Cynn and and an anonymous co-director from Indonesia. It is a Danish-British-Norwegian co-production, presented by Final Cut for Real in Denmark and produced by Signe Byrge Sørensen. It was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

"Director Joshua Oppenheimer has made a documentary in which he interviews the leaders of Indonesian death squads, who were responsible, collectively, for the deaths of millions of Communists, leftists and ethnic Chinese in 1965 and 1966. But he doesn't just interview them. He has them re-enact their crimes and even invites them to write, perform and film skits dramatizing their murders." Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 8/8/2013
 
"The Act of Killing is a bold reinvention of the documentary form, as well as an astounding illustration of man's infinite capacity for evil." Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald, 8/15/2013
 
After the screening of the  Director's Cut of The Act of Killing (160 minutes), there will be a thirty-minute panel discussion.
 
For more information regarding the film, please visit: http://theactofkilling.com/.
 
This event is presented and sponsored by Stanford Global Studies, CDDRL's Program on Human Rights, and the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education.

Cubberley Auditorium

Conferences

Supplier-induced Demand in Newborn Treatment: Evidence from Japan

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We measure the degree of supplier-induced demand in newborn treatment, by exploiting changes in reimbursement arising from the introduction in Japan of the partial prospective payment system (PPS). Under the partial PPS, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) utilization became relatively more profitable than other procedures, since it was excluded from prospective payments. We find that hospitals respond to PPS adoption by increasing NICU utilization and more frequently manipulating infants' reported birth weights -- the latter of which is a measure that determines the infant's maximum allowable length of stay in NICU. This induced demand substantially increases hospitals' reimbursements.

 
Hitoshi Shigeoka received a B.A. (2001) and an MA (2003) in chemical engineering from University of Tokyo, and master of international affairs (2006) and PhD in economics (2012) from Columbia University. Hitoshi’s research interests include health, labor, public economics, and experimental economics. His current research involves estimating the demand elasticity of health care utilization, examining the degree of supplier-induced demand by physicians and hospitals, examining the effects of competition and peer-to-peer teaching on learning, and investigating how the long-term incentives of mothers affect the timing of births.

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Hitoshi Shigeoka Assistant Professor Speaker Simon Fraser University
Seminars

Faculty Spotlight: Gi-Wook Shin

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“Teaching doesn’t stop after class—it shapes and develops into many different avenues.”

Perhaps this is a guiding belief behind Gi-Wook Shin, director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) at Stanford.

Known for his directorship at Shorenstein APARC, Shin is also recognized as a professor of sociology and in the leading role of the Korea Program that he founded more than a decade ago. In this inaugural Faculty Spotlight Q&A, Shin talks courses, research and administration—and perhaps most poignantly—about the ongoing collaboration with students far beyond their time at Stanford.

What are you looking forward to with the Center in year 2014?

As you may know, Shorenstein APARC is entering its thirty-first year and we have much to be pleased with. Our six well-established programs are strong in their approach to interdisciplinary research and policy-oriented outcomes. As director, my goal is to support the success of these programs in broaching questions and guiding purposeful interaction between the United States and Asia.

Political transition, demographic change, and economic development are being seen at varying levels across Asia. At the same time, regional tensions continue to rise and shifting internal dynamics signal unrest. The need for dialogue and new perspectives is essential. We must ask the question: how can we constructively engage?

In February, for example, the Koret Conference will examine opportunities for the outside world to engage with North Korea. Given the current security situation, this dialogue is not incredibly easy, but it is essential. This conference will bring experts to Stanford’s campus who will create a strong policy report and offer insight into the foreign policy debate. The year ahead at Shorenstein APARC presents many opportunities for students, affiliates, and the surrounding community to become involved.

This quarter, you are teaching the course “Nations & Nationalism” and often teach a variety of comparative courses on politics and sociology – what do you find most challenging about teaching?

Shin: For me, a challenging aspect of teaching is finding a balance between teaching theory and equipping students with the tools to approach real-world problems. I do not wish for students to leave with purely theoretical and scholarly arguments; my aim is to give students the means to ask questions and prepare them to sort out today’s complex challenges.

Nationalism remains an important challenge. As we can see in Northeast Asia today, the tension among China, Japan and the Koreas speaks to the interdisciplinary relationship between nation and society—political ramifications caused in part by long-standing historical narratives. In my course, students survey major works and consider a wide range of regional and domestic factors that contribute to political identity. 

Having been at Stanford since 2001 as a senior fellow at FSI and a professor of sociology, what do you most enjoy about working here?

Shin: Stanford provides constant opportunities to learn and engage with new people. Fellows and corporate affiliates join us at Shorenstein APARC each year. It is a pleasure to meet, work and engage in conversation with such a wide variety of scholars and professionals. This is what I have enjoyed most about the Stanford community—meeting very good people in my 13 years here.

It’s especially rewarding to see my students succeed after their time at Stanford. Even after leaving campus, many of my former students continue to work in collaboration with me. For instance, I worked with Paul Chang, an assistant professor of sociology at Harvard University, on a research project on social movements in Korea, which produced articles and a book. Currently, I am working on two collaborative projects with doctorate students I previously taught—one on global talent in Korea and the other on cultural diversity in Asian higher education and corporations.

Can you tell us about your research collaboration and upcoming work?

At present, I am working on three major research projects. My first project is a collaborative one with my former student, Joon Nak Choi, who is now an assistant professor at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. Our book, which is currently under review by a major academic press, examines the spread of global talent from the viewpoint of social capital instead of human capital. While the “brain drain” perspective permeates most literature on global talent recruitment, we claim that the spread of global talent generates social capital, creates transnational bridges, and transfers positive returns back to the home country. As a Korean who has lived and worked in the United States for more than 30 years, this inquiry is especially salient to me.

A second project with another former student, Rennie Moon, an assistant professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, examines cultural diversity issues and challenges in Korea and Asia. We review current programs and policies in universities and corporations and investigate how promoting diversity in ethnically homogenous societies like Korea and Japan can contribute to innovation and creativity. Through this project, we seek to stimulate a much-needed conversation about the value of diversity in Korea and across Asia and what embracing diversity can mean and do for these societies. 

Similarly, I have been working on the final installment of the Divided Memories and Reconciliation project with Daniel C. Sneider, associate director for research at Shorenstein APARC. Through in-depth interviews with over 50 opinion leaders in Japan, Korea, South Korea and the United States, we have gathered and analyzed opinions on memories of the Pacific wars, which have become even more relevant as they manifest in current geopolitics. We are currently writing a book based on the interviews and this will conclude a multi-year research project on the Divided Memories that will have produced four books when this gets published.

All of these projects are based on rigorous academic research but also seek to draw policy implications and suggestions to solve real world issues and problems.

The Faculty Spotlight Q&A series highlights a different faculty member at Shorenstein APARC each month giving a personal look at his or her teaching approaches and outlook on related topics and upcoming activities.

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Film screening & discussion: Academy Award nominee "The Act of Killing"

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A film, The Act of Killing, a current Academy Award Nominee for Best Feature Documentary, will be shown on Monday, Feb. 24 at 7 pm in Cubberley Auditorium at 485 Lasuen Mall at Stanford University. The event is co-sponsored by Stanford Global Studies, Stanford Program on Human Rights, and the vice provost of Undergraduate Education.
 
The version of the film shown will be the director's cut (159 mins). After the showing a panel will comment on the film and open the floor to further discussion.  
 
Diane Steinberg, visiting scholar, Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) will moderate the panel.
 
She will be joined by:
 
Norman Naimark, Robert and Florence McDonnell Professor East European Studies; Fisher Family Director of Stanford Global Studies; and by-courtesy professor of German Studies   
 
Erik Jensen, director, Rule of Law Program; affiliated faculty, CDDRL; and Senior Advisor for Governance and Law, The Asia Foundation
 
Don Emmerson, director, SEAF; affiliated faculty, CDDRL; affiliated scholar, Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies; and emeritus senior fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
 
In Indonesia in 1965-66, in the course of an aborted and still-murky conspiracy, six high-ranking anti-communist leaders of the country's army were kidnapped and murdered.  A surviving general, Soeharto, took command of the army, blamed the murders on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), and launched a massively vengeful politicide that destroyed not only the PKI but the entire Indonesian left, not to mention Indonesians who were falsely accused of being on the left. 
 
The true number of victims will never be known. Guesses range from less than a hundred thousand to several million. The least implausible estimates cluster between several hundred thousand and a million. Also still debated is the authorship of the original conspiracy. Some interpret the general's murders as an intra-army affair and exonerate the PKI. Others implicate the PKI in part or in whole. For others, the question of who killed the generals has been rendered moot by the appalling enormity of the mass carnage that followed.  
 
The Act of Killing features a small cast of Indonesians in Medan, North Sumatra, who claimed to have killed, and may indeed really have killed, other Indonesians who were considered "communists." Much of the heart and shock of the film features the self-confessed killers "re-enacting" their murderous roles.  
 
As a title, The Act of Killing can be read in one or all of at least three ways: (1) All of the actors' re-enactments accurately reproduce the real acts and facts of the killings that occurred. (2) The actors were to some unclear extent performing theatrical acts and fantasies for the benefit of the film's American-born co-director, Joshua Oppenheimer. (3) What Oppenheimer filmed were acts of self-importance and self-aggrandizement attributable to psychologically damaged individuals enjoying the attention.  
 
However one may wish to judge what Oppenheimer's few informants/actors did in front of his camera, an unarguable, ongoing, and systemic immorality that the film evokes is the impunity that the original killers enjoyed throughout Soeharto's time and even now in Indonesia, where communism remains illegal. Not without reason did Oppenheimer's Indonesian co-director and film crew request and obtain anonymity to avoid the risk of being sought out and assaulted by anti-communist thugs. 
 
Not a pretty picture, for sure, but a thought-provoking one, whether or not it wins an Oscar in Los Angeles on March 2.
 
Please direct any event inquiries to sgs.information@stanford.edu or (650) 725-9317.
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