Wellesley College
Political Science 208
Politics of China
Fall 2009

Professor William A. Joseph
PNE 232
x2201
Office Hours: TBA

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, Xinjiang, 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.

Please note: Since much time in this course is spent on imperial China, the Chinese civil war and the Maoist period, if you have already studied a lot of modern Chinese history, you may want to think about whether this course is redundant for you.

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

  • A brief (2-3 page) review of the website China Politics Links due Wed., September 23rd (5%).
  • Two take-home essay exams (6-8 pages), one due on or about October 18th, the other due on or about Nov. 25th. (25% each)
  • A final research term paper (10-12 pages) on on current political/policy issue in China due at the end of exam period (Dec. 21st), but you will have to choose your topic and submit a brief abstract and preliminary bibliography by specifed dates in November and/or early December. (35%)
  • Attendence, attentiveness, and participation. There will be specific assignments related to this requirement, such as reporting on current events in China, that will be will specified early in the semester and depend on the size of the class. (10%)

NOTE: For the two in-term assignments, you may have a total of five days of "extensions" from the due date to use throughout the term as best fits your schedule. These extensions allow you to hand in a paper late without a grade penalty, but after your five days have 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)

 Please see the list of Responsibilities and Expectations attached to this syllabus.

The following books (all paperback) are available for purchase in the bookstore.

  • Jung Chang, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China.
  • Timothy Cheek, Mao Zedong and China's Revolutions.
  • June Grasso, et. al., Modernization and Revolution in China: From the Opium War to the Olympics, 4th edition.

Video assignments are a very important part of this course, so you should take them just as seriously as the reading. Most of the assigned videos are available through E-Reserves or online.

Students are also expected to keep up with current events in China. The New York Times and The Washington Post both do a 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 my China Politics Links, which is accessible via the course conference on FirstClass and the instructor's homepage. Each student will be asked to submit an interesting and substantive article (or link) with commentary to the course conference at least once during the semester. The first 10 minutes or so of class each Friday will be spent discussing current events. The events/issues discussed during this time may be part of the final exam, if that option is offered.

COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS: Assignments marked (ER) are available via Electronic Reserve in the FirstClass Conference for this course. Assignments marked (OL) are "online" and can be accessed via the online version of the course syllabus or through the Online Readings folder in the course FirstClass Conference. Those marked (eBrary) are available through the online library catalog. The readings are listed in the order in which it is recommended that they be done.

Part I: Starting Points

Sept. 8 Introduction to the Course

Sept. 11 Language, Geography, & 2,230 Years of Chinese History

Part II: From Empire to People's Republic

NOTE: Required video for Part II of the course: "China in Revolution" (2 hours) This film can be viewedvia the Video E-Reserves link in the E-Reserves folder of our course conference. It is alos available in in Clapp/Knapp in VHS: DS774 .C45 1989; DVD: DS774 .C44 2001 and in DVD from the instructor.

Sept. 15, 18, 22 Imperial China: The Glue is the Clue

  • Grasso, et. al, ch. 2.
  • Albert Feuerwerker, "Ideology as a Unifying Element" and "Emperor and Bureaucracy: The Political Order," in State and Society in Eighteenth Century China. (ER)
  • Emperor Qianlong's Letter to King George III (1793). (OL)
  • Lloyd E. Eastman, "Agriculture: An Overview," in Family, Fields, and Ancestors: Constancy and Change in China's Social and Economic History, 1550-1949. (ER)
  • Suisheng Zhao, "The Decline of the Chinese World Order," in Power Competition in East Asia, pp. 15-25. (ER)

Sept. 25, 29 Imperial China: Things Fall Apart

  • Grasso, et. al, ch. 3, pp. 32-41.
  • Suisheng Zhao, "The Decline of the Chinese World Order," pp. 26-31. (ER)
  • Digital China/Harvard, "The Opium War," (Browse the site, but be sure to read Commissioner Lin's Letter to Queen Victoria). (OL)
  • Required video: "The Two Coasts of China" (1 hour). Available via video e-reserves (See E-Reserve folder in course conference).

Oct. 2, 6 The Five Rs: Rebellion, Restoration, Reform, Reaction, & Revolution

  • Grasso, et. al, ch. 3, pp. 41-64.
  • Jung Chang, Wild Swans, ch. 1-2.
  • John E. Wills, Jr., "Hong Xiuquan, The Heavenly King," and "Liang Qichao," in Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History. eBrary
  • Lucien Bianco, "Social Causes of the Revolution," in The Origins of the Chinese Revolution, pp. 83-107. (ER)

Oct. 9, 13, 16 Civil War, World War, and more Civil War : Why the Communists Won

PART III: Mao in Power (1949-1976)

NOTE: Required video for Part III of the course: "The Mao Years" (2 hours). This film can be viewed via the Video E-Reserves link in the E-Reserves folder of our course conference. It is also available in in Clapp/Knapp in VHS: DS777.55 .M36 1994; DVD: DS774 .C44 2001 and from instructor.

Oct. 20, 27 Creating the "New China" (1949-55): Golden Years or Ominous Shadows?

Oct. 30 Fragrant Flowers and Poisonous Weeds (1956-57): A Critical Turning Point

  • Grasso, et. al, ch. 7, pp. 152-162.
  • Chang, chs. 10-11.
  • Cheek, pp. 21-24.
  • Mao Zedong

Nov. 6, 10 The Great Leap Forward...Backward...and Rightward (1958-1964)

No Class Nov. 3: Tanner Conference

  • Grasso, et. al, ch. 8.
  • Chang, chs. 12-14.
  • Cheek, pp. 24-26, 204-209.
  • Mao Zedong, "Talk at the Beidaihe Conference," in Cheek, pp. 160-166.
  • Jasper Becker, "Anhui: Let's Talk About Fengyang," in Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine. (ER)

Nov. 13, 17 Mao's Last Stand: The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)

PART IV: The Transition to Market-Leninism (1977--present)

Nov. 20, 24: Deng Xiaoping in Power: The Little Big Man Strikes Back

Nov. 30 - Dec. 11: China After Deng: Change, Continuity, Challenge and Contradiction

  • Grasso, et. al. 11-13.
  • Specific dates and other reading assignments TBA