GV432      Half Unit
Government and Politics in China

This information is for the 2014/15 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Chun Lin CON3.10

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in China in Comparative Perspective, MSc in Comparative Politics, MSc in Conflict Studies, MSc in Global Politics and MSc in Global Politics (Global Civil Society). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course is capped at two groups.  The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 10 October 2014.

Course content

Historical and international conditions and domestic contradictions of economic, social and political transformations in the People's Republic of China; their rival explanations and interpretations: Often in comparison with other postcommunist transitions, other Asian states and other developing countries, discussions of China will cover its historical and international contexts, geopolitics and political demography, central and local state power, central-local relations, and semi-federalism; bureaucracy as tradition and as invention; political economy and market transition and broader liberalisation and global integration; social structure and organisation, and class, ethnic, and gender relations; ideology, culture and cultural politics, issues concerning democracy and legitimacy; nationalism, “one country, two systems”, and the Taiwan question; and China’s military, foreign relations, and changing global position.

Teaching

10 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of seminars in the ST.

Formative coursework

Students are required to give at least one seminar presentation, and to write one 1,500 word essay, due in week 7.

Indicative reading

M Meisner, The Deng Xiaoping Era (1996); B Womack, Contemporary Chinese Politics in Historical Perspective (1999); C Bramall, Chinese Economic Development (2008); D Shambaugh, China's Communist Party (2008); C K Lee, Against the Law (2007); S Heilman & E Perry (eds), Mao's Invisible Hand (2011); M Leonard (ed), China 3.0 (2012);V Goossaert and D Palmer, eds. The Religious Question in Modern China ( 2011)

Assessment

Essay (100%, 4000 words) in the ST.

Key facts

Department: Government

Total students 2013/14: 30

Average class size 2013/14: 13

Controlled access 2013/14: No

Lecture capture used 2013/14: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Specialist skills