China is a major power and home to the world's largest population and second largest economy. From being a relatively poor and isolated country a few decades ago, rapid economic growth and extraordinary reforms have turned China into a bustling, dynamic and highly diverse upper middle-income country and society. At the same time, China has maintained its authoritarian system of government and is ruled by the world's largest political organization, the Chinese Communist Party. Some of these characteristics challenge several facets of conventional political- and social science theory.

In this course we take a comprehensive, but still relatively deep, dive into Chinese politics and society. We cover some historical aspects but focus on recent or contemporary political and socioeconomic developments, mainly related to domestic, but also with some consideration to international, politics. Students will learn about key reform and policy processes and how to analyze and critically evaluate these in light of the overall situation and theoretical assumptions. The course is structured into eight main themes, covering key development achievements as well as several critical challenges facing China today.

This is an open course. Students who do not have a background in political- or social science are expected, if necessary, to do some extra (recommended) reading to follow the course without problems. The course is lecture based but include some group assignments, presentations and class discussion, the formats of which may be adjusted to the number of students in the course.

A candidate who has completed his or her qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

• demonstrate knowledge of overall developments and key reform and policy processes within contemporary Chinese politics and society
• describe and explain how Chinese developments compare to other countries and regions

Skills

• identify, analyze and discuss actual political and societal changes in light of arguments and positions put forward in relevant literature and scholarly debates
• assess specific reform- and policy processes in light of overall political and social developments

General competence

• critically apply concepts and perspectives within political- and social science debates to the Chinese context (case)

Studierettleiar@isp.uib.no

Tlf 55 58 33 16