Politics of Contemporary China

Module title	Politics of Contemporary China
Module code	MLM2002
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Thomas Burnham (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	15

Module description

This module is designed for students interested in contemporary Chinese politics and society. This module will introduce you to the key ideas and events relevant to contemporary Chinese politics through a guided exploration of representative literature and other media. It is aimed at students with or without a background in politics and history.

The module will begin by exploring the “Century of Humiliation” narrative and continue into the ongoing “Century of Rejuvenation”. Through this exploration, you will learn about the basics of contemporary Chinese politics: its historical antecedents, the basic structure of the modern Chinese state, the way Chinese politics have been (mis)understood by outside observers, and the major issues under discussion in today’s news and in academia. We will then examine three broad sets of overlapping political tendencies in contemporary China so as to experience a sampling of the diversity of thought and opinion found in Chinese political discourse today.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

Provide you with an overview of the political tendencies, factions, and dynamics in contemporary Chinese society and politics through a sampling of key texts and class discussion.
Foster a sensitivity to key issues in a way which enables them to explore their interests safely and effectively while in China.
Give you the opportunity to discuss the perspectives of key figures and scholars before articulating and defending a position of your own.

By the end of the course, you will be able to provide an accounting for the modern origins of key political ideas in China, express what those ideas are, and articulate a position in a debate about these ideas. You will further be able to link those ideas to your particular interest in studying China and the Chinese language.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate a familiarity with key figures and events relevant to the politics of contemporary China
2. Articulate a position in or understanding of the debates surrounding modernization and democracy in contemporary Chinese politics

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Formulate a written argument using select primary sources and engaging with secondary analysis
4. Demonstrate a cross-cultural awareness in exploring and understanding history and politics

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Write imaginatively and critically about complex and globally relevant topics
6. Engage thoughtfully and in an informed way with the thought and perspective of others around the world

Syllabus plan

While content may vary from year to year, it is expected that the module will cover:

Lectures:

Document Number 9 and the National Security Law – Why Basic Political Literacy is Important
From Humiliation… Part I – The Background of the Modernizing Mission and Regime of the CCP
From Humiliation… Part II – Memory of the Century of Humiliation Today
…To Rejuvenation Part I – The Aims of the Party Today
…To Rejuvenation Part II – The Policies of the Party Today
Chinese Liberalism and Traditionalism Part I – Reform or Revolution in Pre-Modern China
Chinese Liberalism and Traditionalism Part II – Chinese Liberalism Today
Chinese Communism Part I – Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, and Mao Zedong
Chinese Communism Part II – Those Left Behind (Anarchists, Trotskyists, and Left Maoists)
Chinese Communism Part III – Reform or Revolution in Modern China (Reformers, Conservatives, and Right Maoists)

Seminars:

What is ‘Historical Nihilism’, and Why Should We Care?
A Summary of Western Historiography of Modern Chinese History – What We’ve Gotten Right, and What We’ve Gotten Wrong
The One T and the Three Xs (Taiwan, Xianggang [Hong Kong], Xizang [Tibet], and Xinjiang)
Are We There Yet? Democracy Now or Later
The Third Historical Resolution and Why it Matters

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
16	134	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	11	11 x lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	5	5 x seminars
Guided Independent Study	134	Private Study

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay Plan	500 words	1, 3, 5, 6	Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	100	2500 words	1-6	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay (2500 words)	Essay (2500 words)	1-6	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Prior to taking the module, you should become broadly familiar with one or all of the following four texts.

Paul Cohen, Discovering History in China: American Historical Writing on the Recent Past (New York: Columbia University Press, 1984)
Henrietta Harrison, China: Inventing the Nation (London: Arnold, 2001)
Rana Mitter, A Bitter Revolution: China’s Struggle with the Modern World (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005)
Jonathon D. Spence, The Search for Modern China, 3^rd ed. (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013)

The following will serve as helpful reference material throughout the module:

Timothy Cheek, Klaus Mülhahn, and Hans van de Ven (eds.), The Chinese Communist Party: A Century in Ten Lives (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021)
S.A. Smith (ed.), The Oxford handbook of the History of Communism (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014)
Christian Sorace, Ivan Franceschini, and Nicholas Loubere (eds.), Afterlives of Chinese Communism: Political Concepts from Mao to Xi (Canberra: Australian National University Press, 2019)

Key words search

China, Chinese, politics, contemporary politics, political theory, international relations, economics, modern history, global history, society

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	09/02/2022
Last revision date	28/02/2022