POL2411H1S L5101

Undergraduate Course Code: POL441H1S L5101

Topics in Asian Politics

Chinese Politics

Themes

: This course is designed as a general survey of the current literature on Chinese politics. Though Week 1 is designed to provide background for the non-China specialist, this is not principally a survey course of Chinese political history. For students looking for additional background on Chinese politics in the Maoist era or the general sweep of Chinese political history, I recommend the remaining chapters of Governing China (not covered in Week 1) as well as Jonathan Spence’s masterful survey text In Search of Modern China. Weeks 2-12 will focus on current issues and debates in the field through readings of approximately one to three books and/or a series of about 6-8 articles per week. The goal is for students to have a firm grounding in Chinese politics as the field currently stands.

Texts

TBA (likely 10-12 books, plus a collection of electronically available articles)

Format and Requirements

Seminar format. Students will be expected to attend and participate in class discussions, to make one presentation on the readings for a given week and write a short paper based on it, and to write a larger literature review or original research paper. Undergraduate and graduate students will be expected to complete the same requirements, but undergraduates will be judged by a slightly more lenient standard. Grades will be determined according the following rubric: Seminar Participation: 35%, Presentation: 10%, Short Paper: 10%, Final Paper: 45%.