SDG Detail

POLITICS 211 : Politics of China

Undergraduate course

Project description

With over 1.3 billion residents, China is the world�s largest country by population and home to the oldest continuous human civilization. It is the fastest growing national economy, the second largest producer of carbon emissions, the last major communist state, and accounts for more than half of all people living under authoritarian rule (about 55-60 percent). In addition to its significance for the world, China is also of pivotal importance to political scientists. Its rapid economic growth, the apparent resilience of its vanguard party, newly emerging patterns of governance, and sometimes violent forms of social mobilization have transformed China into a rich laboratory for the study of politics, one in which many long-standing theories are now being re-evaluated. This 15 point course is designed to introduce students to the central issues, institutions, and actors in contemporary Chinese politics. Its main goal, however, is to enhance understandings of basic political science concepts and approaches, and to furnish an opportunity for students to build their analytical and writing skills, providing a foundation for more advanced studies. Students who have previously taken Politics 106, Asian 100, or Chinese 130 are qualified to enroll. The course comprises a series of 12 2-hour lectures, one per week over a 12-week term. These lectures are supplemented by a weekly tutorial session at which the Lecturer will lead discussions and skill-building activities related to course readings, as well as offer guidance on essay and test writing strategies. Each student is expected to write a midterm test, a critical review essay and a final exam, as well as attend and participate in all lectures and tutorial discussions. Recordings of the lectures will be made available, but these are not meant to be a substitute for meaningful participation in the course.

Year 2022

Location New Zealand

Organization University of Auckland

Project aims

Project outcome

By the end of this course, students will be able to: Be able to critically discuss complex problems or questions in the study of Chinese politics (Capability 1.3 and 5.2) Demonstrate an understanding of of how knowledge claims are built and accumulate (Capability 2.1) Communicate complex and original arguments in professional English (Capability 4.2) Demonstrate familiarity with the ways theory is informed by social, cultural, historical, or political experiences in China. (Capability 6.1)