GV523-6-AU-CO:
The Politics of Modern China
2020/21
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 18 December 2020
15
01 February 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module focuses on the politics of the People's Republic of China, with an emphasis on the contemporary effects of the political and economic transitions that occurred during the Reform Era. The purpose of the module is to provide a working knowledge and critical lens for understanding how and why political events and change are occurring in modern China. This module highlights a comparative approach to Chinese politics that seeks to understand how the Chinese case can inform and be informed by existing empirical methods and theories of politics and government.
The first portion of the module covers an introduction to China's historical background, the structure of political institutions and governance, overview of China's population, and its market systems. The second portion of the module examines the causes and consequences of two defining policy decisions – the one-child policy and the state's response to mass internal migration -- which have led to broader challenges facing Chinese society.
The aims of the module are:
A. To provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge about the modern Chinese political, economic, and social system.
B. To engage with a wide range of applied empirical material relating to the political system, specific policy adoptions, and state-societal relations in modern China.
C. To present a range of contemporary societal and policy challenges in China, which are discussed both from a theoretical point of view and an empirical perspective.
D. To distinguish the effectiveness of state-sponsored policies in combatting social conflict in China.
By following this module, students will gain the following skills:
By following this module, students will gain the following skills:
A. Identify and employ appropriate material that contains required information and data.
B. Synthesize the obtained information to use it for relevant purposes (e.g., essays and discussions).
C. Formulate arguments clearly and coherently in both written and oral forms.
D. Explore complex social, economic, and political challenges and analyze their main characteristics, determinants, and consequences.
Weekly topics:
1. Chinese historical trends and influences
2. China's political institutions and actors
3. The structure of China's economy
4. The composition of Chinese society
5. Origins and application of the One-Child Policy
6. Demographic and societal effects of the One-Child Policy
7. Conflicts over policy implementation: challenges to revising the One-Child Policy
8. Origins and early stages of internal migration
9. Later stages of internal migration
10. Conflicts over policy implementation: challenges facing an economy built on internal migration
This module will be delivered with (i) a weekly pre-recorded lecture and (ii) a weekly interactive lecture. The pre-recorded lecture will consist of one or more items of prepared content that students can access electronically and must study before the interactive lecture. The interactive lecture will consist of one 50-minute lecture in which students can ask questions about, and discuss various aspects of, the prepared content with the module supervisor.
- Fong, Mei. (2016-11-25) - One Child: Mei Fong.
- Feng, Wang; Gu, Baochang; Cai, Yong. (2016-03) 'The End of China's One-Child Policy', in Studies in Family Planning. vol. 47 (1) , pp.83-86
- Barry, Naughton. (no date) Economic Policy in the Aftermath of the 19th Party Congress.
- Zhang, Junsen. (no date) 'The Evolution of China's One-Child Policy and Its Effects on Family Outcomes', in Journal of Economic Perspectives. vol. 31 (1) , pp.141-60
- Link, Perry; Qiang, Xiao. (2013) 'From “Fart People” to Citizens', in Journal of Democracy. vol. 24 (1) , pp.79-85
- T. Chang, Leslie. (2014-01-02) Factory Girls, London: Pan Macmillan.
- (2013) 'Social Management of Gender Imbalance in China: A Holistic Governance Framework', in Economic and political weekly: NIH Public Access. vol. 48 (35) , pp.79-
- Jean, Oi. (2005) 'Patterns of Corporate Restructuring in China: Political Constraints on Privatization', in The China Journal. vol. 53
- Michael, Swaine. (no date) Chinese Views of Foreign Policy in the 19th Party Congress.
- Kam Wing Chan and Li Zhang. (1999) 'The Hukou System and Rural-Urban Migration in China: Processes and Changes', in The China Quarterly: Cambridge University Press. (160) , pp.818-
- Lily L. Tsai. (2007) 'Solidary Groups, Informal Accountability, and Local Public Goods Provision in Rural China', in The American Political Science Review: American Political Science Association. vol. 101 (2) , pp.355-
- He, Guizhen; Lu, Yonglong; Mol, Arthur P.J.; Beckers, Theo. (2012) 'Changes and challenges: China's environmental management in transition', in Environmental Development. vol. 3, pp.25-38
- Minzner, Carl. (2013) 'The Turn Against Legal Reform', in Journal of Democracy. vol. 24 (1) , pp.65-72
- Alice, Miller. (no date) The 19th Central Committee Politburo.
- Jiang, Shiqing; Lu, Ming; Sato, Hiroshi. (2012-06) 'Identity, Inequality, and Happiness: Evidence from Urban China', in World Development. vol. 40 (6) , pp.1190-1200
- Zhu et al., Chengchao. (2015) 'China’s Left-Behind Children: Impact Of Parental Migration On Health, Nutrition, And Educational Outcomes', in Health Affairs. vol. 34 (10)
- Social Protest | China Leadership, https://www.prcleader.org/social-protest
- Wasserstrom, Jeffrey N.; Cunningham, Maura Elizabeth. (2018) China in the 21st century: what everyone needs to know, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay 1 |
|
35% |
| Coursework |
Essay 2 |
|
65% |
Additional coursework information
Essay 1: 1500 word critique of Tsai’s “Solidary Groups, Informal Accountability, and Local Public Goods Provision in Urban China” article
Essay 2: 2500 word reaction to Fong’s “One Child” and the policy responses
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Sarah Shair-Rosenfield, email: s.shairrosenfield@essex.ac.uk.
Sarah Shair-Rosenfield
Dr Shair-Rosenfield s.shairrosenfield@essex.ac.uk Administrator Edmund Walker, govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Mohammed Rodwan Abouharb
University College London
Available via Moodle
Of 192 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
192 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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