POL2 208 Politics of China

WELLESLEY COLLEGE

Political Science 208
Politics of China
Fall 2004

Professor William A. Joseph
PNE 232, x2201
Office Hours: T 1:30-3:00; W 9:30-12:15
and by appointment

This course is an introduction to the modern political history and contemporary political system of China. The emphasis is on China's political development; i. e. the changing structure, use, and distribution of power in China from the middle of the 19th century to the present.

Topics include the fall of imperial China, the origins, development, and victory of the Chinese Communist revolution; the rule and legacy of Chairman Mao Zedong, particularly the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution; economic reform, cultural opening, and political repression (especially the Tiananmen crisis) in the era of Deng Xiaoping; and the evolution of Chinese politics in post-Deng China. Politics in Tibet, the Muslim areas of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will also be considered as time allows. Although the focus of the course is on China's domestic politics, close attention will be paid to the influence of international factors on China's development and part the last sessions of the course will look at China's role in the world.

The written assignments for the course, tentative due dates, and weights in the final grade are as follows:

A take-home mid-term exam (open book) (25%): Monday, October 25.
An 8-10 page research paper (35%): Wednesday, November 24 [before Thanksgiving Break]
A self-scheduled final exam (closed book) (40%): December 15-21.

NOTE: For the two in-term assignments, you may have a total of 5 days of "extensions" to use as best fits your schedule. This will allow you to hand in the assignment after the due date without a grade penalty. But after the 5-day grace period has been used up the assignment will be marked down 1/3 grade per day (or fraction of a day) late (e. g. from B+ to B).

Attendance, Attentiveness, & Participation will be taken into account when assessing the final grade. Please see the list of "Responsibilities and Expectations" attached at the end of this syllabus.

The following books (all paperback) are available for purchase in the bookstore. They are also on reserve in the library.

John K. Fairbank and Merle Goldman, China: A New History, 2nd edition.
Jung Chang, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China.
Timothy Cheek, Mao Zedong and China's Revolutions
Huang Shu-min, The Spiral Road: Change in a Chinese Village Through the Eyes of a Communist Party Leader, 2nd edition.
Current History, "China and East Asia," September 2004.

Video assignments are a very important part of this course, so you should take them just as seriously as the reading. The assigned videos are all on reserve in the Knapp Center. If possible, common showing times will be arranged.

Students are also expected to keep up with current events in China. The New York Times and The Washington Post both do a pretty good job of covering news from China. Daily editions of these papers are available on-line. For other suggested sources for news about China, see China Politics Links, which is accessible via the course conference on FirstClass and the instructor's homepage. The first 10 or so minutes of class each Friday will be spent discussing current events.The issues discussed during this time and current events in general will be part of the final exam.

COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS: Assignments marked (ER) are available via Electronic Reserve in the FirstClass Conference for this course. Assignments marked (OL) are "on-line" and can be accessed via the course syllabus on the instructor's homepage by clicking on the relevant link or through the On-line Readings folder in the course FirstClass Conference. Items marked (R) are on reserve in the library. The readings are listed in the order in which it is recommended that they be done.

Part I: Starting Points

Sept. 7 Introduction to the Course & the Study of Chinese Politics