DeLaurier POL 3630-201
POLITICS OF CHINA POL 3630-201
Spring Semester 2017
Dr. Greg DeLaurierTuTh 9:30- 10:45 am
Office & Office Hours: Dugan 201MRoom: TBA
TBA
Website: (click on page ‘For Spring 2017 Students’)
E-mail: (preferred) or
This course is approved for:
--Chinese-Language World Track Ready
--Asian Studies Minor
--Environment and Society
--Breadth of Knowledge: Social Science Perspective
Course Description and Introduction
At the beginning of the 20th century, China was called by many, in the West, “the sick man of Asia.” Today many, in the West, have proclaimed the 21st century to be “The century of China.” And indeed, after an almost unbelievably tumultuous modern history of war, revolution, and political and economic upheaval, The People’s Republic of China has embarked upon one of the great adventures in human history: to lift 1.35 billion people—20% of the world’s population—from poverty to comfort in a single generation.
Over the past 30 years, China has done much towards achieving this goal. It ranks as the first or second most productive economy in the world, until recently regularly achieving annual growth rates of 10% or more. It has managed to lift at least 400 million people out of poverty, and provided a modern, consumer-driven lifestyle, at least in China’s cities, that is indistinguishable from life in any rich metropolitan area in the world.
Much, however, remains to be accomplished; 1 in 8 Chinese still lives in absolute poverty. But the larger question, and the question we are exploring in this course, is, is China’s current economic development sustainable? Will the decisions China is making today contribute to improving its social, economic, and environmental well-being into the future.
There are indications that China’s current economic path may not be sustainable. Its population remains large while its amount of arable land continues to shrink—eaten up by factories, roads, housing, even golf courses. Environmentally, China faces any number of crises related to unchecked economic growth; for instance, it is estimated that 80% of China’s bodies of freshwater are polluted.
China also faces any number of political challenges and crises. A large and growing income gap between China’s cities and China’s countryside—where at least 40% of the population still lives—has, along with other reasons, led to a great deal of unrest and protest among China’s rural population. 200 million peasants, at least, have left the countryside, the largest migration in human history, and moved to China’s cities in search of better wages. Some have a found better life, most have not. Many work long hours for small wages (some end up not being paid at all) amidst an epidemic of workplace injury and disease.
Even among the lucky minority who have found success in China’s high tech industries, layoffs, downsizing, outsourcing, and the like (sound familiar?) create a great deal of anxiety, as well as cynicism.
It is unclear that China’s ruling party, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has held a monopoly of power for over half a century and today still allows no overt opposition, has the capacity to successfully address these multiple crises. It is not clear that it any longer is able to hold the loyalty and capture the imagination of the people it governs.
But China, as we shall see, is a complex and dynamic society, and nothing about its present, or future, situation is clear and unambiguous. What is certain is that whatever China does will change and influence the world in countless ways, and so in one way or another will have an impact on your life. Reason enough to study this remarkable society.
Goals of the Course
At the end of the course I hope that you will have a broad understanding of
- The challenges and opportunities facing China as it tries to build a sustainable society and economy;
- The impact China’s development has had on the rest of the world;
- The wide variety and nature of daily life in China.
Requirements
- There are no prerequisites for this course, except an interest in China.
- I ask that you will have read, or watched, the assigned material for the week it is listed in this syllabus.
- I expect that you will attend all classes. If your lack of attendance becomes a problem, I will speak with you. If it continues to be a problem, I will give you a failing grade for the course.
- During class time, please turn off all cell phones, iPods, iPads, iPhones, iJustHavetoText or whatever other electronic gizmos you carry around. Please check with me before using a laptop.
- Don’t cheat or plagiarize. These are really (really) serious offenses and, at a minimum, will result in immediate failure of the course.
- Have some fun.
Assignments and Grading
- Three papers of around 5 pages in length (due dates are listed in the ‘Class Schedule’).
These will not be research papers, but, rather, will ask for your interpretation and analysis of the material we have read, watched, and discussed. I’ll expect each paper to be well done and carefully written. If a paper does not meet these expectations, I will ask you to rewrite and perhaps seek assistance from the Learning Center.
In-class presentation of papers is also required. We will discuss these papers much more in class.
- A mid-term in-class examination. This will both consist of short answer (definitions) questions and an essay question.
As I need to offer a percentage breakdown of your final grade, here it is:
First Paper20%
Second Paper20%
Mid-Term Exam15%
Final Paper30%
Class Contribution15%
Text
(Available at the Bookstore and, no doubt, elsewhere.)
DreyerChina’s Political System, 9th edition (don’t buy, rent, download, steal an earlier edition)
FallowsChina Airborne
I’ll also be making generous use of on-line materialand videos.
Class Schedule(Tentative. Meaning this schedule may, and probably will, change as our work and discussions evolve.)
Please Note: Though not always indicated on the syllabus, there will be class materials and/or readings for most weeks at the PBworks site. Please look at these before the start of each week’s classes.
Week One:Tu Jan 17– Th Jan 19
Introduction to the course: China and sustainability, and why China matters
READ: --the syllabus (very important) --Readings for Week One at PBworks site
Week Two:Tu Jan 24 - Th Jan 26
Economic sustainability and the weight of history
READ:--Dreyer, Chapter 1, pp. 1-8, and Chapter 2
--Fallows, Introduction
--Readings for Week Two at PBworks site
Week Three: Tu Jan 31– Th Feb 02
Political sustainability and the weight of history
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 3
Week Four: Tu Feb 7 – Th Feb 9
Mao Zedong and peasant revolution
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 4
Week Five: Tu Feb 14 – Th Feb16*
China under Mao: ‘We have met the enemy and he is us’
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 5
*FIRST PAPER DUE Th Feb 16
Week Six: Tu Feb 21 (No class, Monday schedule) – Th Feb 23
China after Mao: Disillusionment and reform
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 6
Week Seven: Tu Feb 28 – Th Mar 2
Economic reform: Mao spins in his grave
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 7
--Fallows, Chapters 1 and 2
Week Eight: Tu Mar 7 – Th Mar 9
Economic reform…
READ:--Fallows, Chapters 3 - 5
SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Week Nine: TuMar 21 – Th Mar 23*
Economic Reform…
READ: --Fallows, Chapters 6 and 7
*IN CLASS MID-TERM EXAM Th Mar 23
Week Ten: TuMar 28 – ThMar30
Protest, politics, and legality in China
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 8 and 12
Week Eleven: Tu Apr 4 – Th Apr 6
Education and the question of egalitarianism
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 10
Week Twelve: Tu Apr 11– Th Apr 13*
Sustainability and the environment in China
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 11
--Fallows, Chapter 8
*SECOND PAPER DUE Th APR 13
Week Thirteen: Tu Apr 18- Th Apr 20
Who is ‘Chinese;’ who gets to decide?
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 13
Week Fourteen: Tu Apr 25 – ThApr 27
China’s future/our future??
READ: --Dreyer, Chapter 15
--Fallows, Chapters 9 and 10
*FINAL PAPER DUE VIA EMAIL ON MUTUALLY AGREED UPON TIMEAND DAY
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