This course aims to strengthen students' theoretical understanding and empirical knowledge of Asian politics, focusing specifically on East and Southeast Asia. Lectures cover a wide range of key thematic issues such as nation-building, state formation, authoritarianism, democracy, political behavior, political institutions, political culture, identity politics, economic development, and welfare states. The focus of the course is twofold. First, these themes will be analyzed with a strong comparative focus that allows students to contextualize and understand Asian experiences in the light of broader theoretical and disciplinary debates. Second, by exposure to illustrations featuring various Asian cases and tutorial assignments, students will widen their knowledge of the history, society and politics of specific Asian countries. The knowledge acquired in this course will help students conceptualize and critically evaluate contemporary political dynamics in Hong Kong, Asia and elsewhere.