Course overview
This course helps students understand some of the key politics underlying developments and crises in China.
It focuses on themes and principles underlying the evolution of Chinese politics, economy and society in the People's Republic. In the first half we examine the nature of China's communist party-state political system, the aims, rise and fall of Maoism, and the reasons behind and the nature of the 1978 post-Mao Zedong economic reforms. These changes have allowed China to develop into the rapidly rising economic power it is today while the reforms have also allowed China to be increasingly influential on the world stage.
In the second half, we discuss some of the current key issues and problems arising from the success of China's development strategies. These may include growing levels of social inequality, gender and age imbalances, problems of political reform, China's place in international trade and political systems, the environmental costs of success and the like.
Throughout China Today, the relevance of historical, theoretical and ideological issues, such as the nature of communism, for understanding current developments in China and applying critical thinking are stressed. Where possible, the relevant underlying principles are related to Australia, particularly understandings of what 'right' and 'left' can mean in politics.
Skills in learning how to write strong argumentative essays are stressed throughout.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand the underlying nature of the Peoples Republic of China with critical analitical skills
- Recognise and be able to critically analyse contemporary Chinese politics, society and governance
- Develop the ability to analise underlying factors for China's dramatic economic transformation in depth
- Understand and apply the technical aspects of academic writing including style, standard academic genres and referencing conventions
- Equip you with the knowledgefor yourpotentially possible China related career
- Develop the ability to approach and analyse the values and ways of life in China with emotional intelligence
- Develop the ability to examine China, the Chinese society and the Chinese Communst Party in international context
- Develop the abitlity to examine China's economic development in the global context
- Develop an understanding of the relationship between Australia and China from a glocal context
- Develop an understanding of people's grassroots interaction beween Chinese and Australians including the Obriginals in the past