HIS 340L (38555) / ANS 340L (31010)

POST-MAO CHINA CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION

Spring 2015 Prof. Huaiyin Li Tue. & Thur. 3:30-5:00 pm Office: GAR 3.202 GAR 1.126 Office Phone: 475 7910 Office Hours: Tue. & Thur. 2:00-3:30 pm Email: [email protected]

Course description:

This course examines contemporary Chinese economy, society, and politics in a historical context. It covers the following major themes: the transformation of China’s rural and urban economies and its social consequences; change and continuity in government systems, political ideologies, and popular values; and China’s integration into the global system and its impact on China’s role in world politics. Using a comparative and historical perspective, this course aims to identify the characteristic Chinese path of economic, social, and political transformations and explicating its implications for existing theories of development and modernization.

Required readings:

T. Saich, Government and Politics of China, 3rd ed (Palgrave, 2011) H. Li, Village China under Socialism and Reform: A Micro-History, 1948-2008 (Stanford, 2009) B. Womack, ed., China’s Rise in Historical Perspective (Rowman & Littlefield, 2010) T. Kacka, A. Kipnis, and S. Sargeson, Contemporary China: Society and Social Change (Cambridge, 2013)

Grading:

Class participation (20%): including oral presentation (10%), and participation in discussion (10%). Four pop quizzes (5% each, 20% total): for each quiz, write a synopsis (100-200 words) of one chapter from the reading assignments for the day, to be finished in class without prior notification. Midterm Exam (30%): on Thur. Mar. 12. Essay (30%): 6 to 7 double-spaced pages, due Thur. May 7.

Note: 1) Attendance policy: You are allowed two unexcused absences without penalty. Each additional absence without acceptable documentation will lower your final grade by 2 percent (up to 10 percent). 2) Plus/minus grades will be assigned for the final grade. 3) Any student with a documented disability who requires academic accommodations should contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 1-866-329-3986 (Video Phone) as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations.

Part I. Chinese History: An Overview

Tue. Jan. 20 Introduction Readings: Government and Politics of China, Chap. 1, “Introduction”

Thur. Jan. 22 Imperial heritage Readings: China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 3, “Chinese Strategy and Security Issues in Historical Perspective”

Tue. Jan. 27 The Decline of Qing China Readings: China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 1, “China and the World: From Tribute to Treaties to Popular Nationalism”

Thur. Jan. 29 Modernizing China Readings: China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 9, “The Political Creativity of Late Imperial China”

Tue. Feb. 3 China in Revolution Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 3, “China’s Changing Road to Development: Political History, 1949-78”

Thur. Feb. 5 Video Readings: China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 2, “On China’s Rise”

Tue. Feb. 10 From Mao to Deng Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 4, “China under Reform, 1978-2010”

Thur. Feb. 12 Video

Part II. China Closeup

Tue. Feb. 17 Transition to Socialism Readings: Village China, Chap. 2, “Interest, Identity, and Ideology” Village China, Chap. 4, “The Great Leap Forward and Its Aftermath”

Thur. Feb. 19 Popular Protests and Participation Readings: Village China, Chap. 3, “People’s Disturbances” Village China, Chap. 5, “Rightful Weapons”

Tue. Feb. 24 Mobilization and Control Readings: Village China, Chap. 6, “The Cultural Revolution” Village China, Chap. 7, “The Reach of the State”

Thur. Feb. 26 Socialist Agriculture Readings: Village China, Chap. 8, “Everyday Strategies for Team Farming” Village China, Chap. 9, “The Family Cycle and Income Disparity”

Tue. Mar. 3 Post-Mao Reforms Readings: Village China, Chap. 10, “Agricultural Growth and Social Change” Village China, Chap. 11, “Decollectivization”

Thur. Mar. 5 Post-Mao Reforms (cont’d) Readings: Village China, Chap. 12, “The Retreat of the State” Village China, Chap. 13, “From Government to Governance”

Tue. Mar. 10 The State-Owned Enterprises in Maoist China Reading: H. Li, “Worker Performance in State-Owned Factories in Maoist China: A Reinterpretation” (downloadable from Canvas)

Thur. Mar. 12 Exam

Part III. Special Topics

Tue. Mar. 24 The Party and the State Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 5, “The Chinese Communist Party” Government & Politics of China, Chap. 6, “The Central Governing Apparatus”

Thur. Mar. 16 Government and Reform Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 7, “Government beyond the Center” China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 10, “Political Creativity and Political Reform in China?”

Tue. Mar. 31 Political Participation and Protest Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 8, “Political Participation and Protest” Contemporary China, Chap. 13, “Collective Action and Social Change”

Thur. Apr. 2 Economic Policy Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 10, “Economic Policy” Contemporary China, Chap. 5, “Work”

Tue. Apr. 7 Economic Growth Readings: China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 5, “China’s Pre-reform Economy in World Perspective” China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 6, “The Dynamics of China’s Reform-Era Economy”

Thur. Apr. 9 Environment and Resource Readings: China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 7, “The Environmental Impasse in Late Imperial China” China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 8, “China’s Energy Rise”

Tue. Apr. 14 State and Society Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 9, “The Chinese State and Society” Government & Politics of China, Chap. 11, “Social Policy”

Thur. Apr. 16 Social Integration and Community Readings: Contemporary China, Chap. 3, “Citizenship, Household Registration and Migration” Contemporary China, Chap. 4, “Community Institutions”

Tue. Apr. 21 Social Stratification and Inequality Readings: Contemporary China, Chap. 10, “Social Class and Stratification” Contemporary China, Chap. 11, “Regional, Rural-Urban and Within Community Inequalities”

Thur. Apr. 23 Women, Marriage, and the Family Readings: Contemporary China, Chap. 1, “Families, Kinship and Relatedness” Contemporary China, Chap. 2, “Marriage, Intimacy and Sex” Contemporary China, Chap. 11, “The ‘Women Question’ and Gender Inequalities”

Tue. Apr. 28 Education and Culture Readings: Contemporary China, Chap. 8, “Education and the Cultivation of Citizens” Contemporary China, Chap. 9, “Modernity, Youth Identities and Popular Culture”

Thur. Apr. 30 Religion and Ethnicity Readings: Contemporary China, Chap. 6, “Religion, Ritual, and Religiosity” Contemporary China, Chap. 7, “Ethnicity”

Tue. May 5 Foreign Policy Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 12, “Foreign Policy” China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 4, “China’s Strategy and Security in the Post-Cold War Era”

Thur. May 7 China’s Future Challenges Readings: Government & Politics of China, Chap. 13, “China’s Future Challenges” China’s Rise in Historical Perspective, Chap. 11, “Struggle for Identity: A Political Psychology of China’s Rise”

(Term paper due)