China and Global Politics

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Students will develop the ability to employ international relations theories and frameworks to analyse issues pertaining to China and global politics
• Students will develop advanced analytical skills and polished communications capabilities
• Students will deepen their understanding of the key issues and debates pertaining to the evolution of China’s relations with the rest of the world

The PRC is currently the world’s second largest economy, represents about one quarter of the world’s population, and is a nuclear power with a huge military establishment. This course is designed to examine China in global politics since 1949. It offers an overview of key issues and debates pertaining to China and global politics as well as explains the extent to which China’s foreign relations relate to international relations grand and middle-range theories. The syllabus will outline the key units of the

module, the objectives of the course and learning outcomes, reading materials for each of the units, media and electronic resources, teaching and learning methods, methods of assessment, as well as feedback to students and feedback from students. The proposed structure of the module is as follows:

• Introduction
• China’s foreign relations before the arrival of the West and Chinese perceptions of world order
• Sino-Soviet Alliance and Its Collapse
• China and the Korean War
• Sino-US relations
• Debate over the rise of China
• China and regional/global economy
• China and region/global security
• China and international organizations
• China and human rights
• China and environment
• China, global politics, and issue of Taiwan

Teaching and learning methods

The principal teaching methods will include:

• A weekly one-hour lecture;
• A weekly one-hour seminar presentations by students and feedback from the lecturer as well as the rest of the class.

The learning methods will include:

• Critical reading of assigned texts;
• Oral presentations;
• In-class debates;
• Written assignments;
• Examination.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

David M. Lampton (ed.) (2001). The Making of Chinese Foreign and Security Policy in the Reform Era, 1978-2000. Stanford University Press.

Shaun Breslin (ed) (2010). Handbook of Chinese International Relations. Routledge.

Alastair Iain Johnston and Robert S. Ross (ed.) (2006). New Directions in the Study of China’s Foreign Policy. Stanford University Press.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External