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Programme & Unit Catalogues


PL30898: Politics in China

[Page last updated: 05 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 30%, ES 70%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 30%)
  • Essay (ES 70%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Aims: This unit is to provide students with a theoretical and empirical understanding of the state-society relations and foreign relations of contemporary China. By situating Chinese state rule at the connecting nexus between domestic politics and foreign relations in the post-WWII geopolitical context, students will engage with key debates concerning the nature, logics and practices of Chinese statecraft. While such internal issues salient to state rule as local governance, political system, social networks, criminal justice, population control, ethnic identities and social movements will be covered, China's increasing presence and the Chinese overseas in other parts of the world will be discussed, especially in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
* Assess the nature, logics and practices of the Chinese politics.
* Comprehend the context-specific ways in which state-society relations and foreign relations are addressed and connected by the Chinese state.
* Evaluate the processes and patterns of Chinese state rule with a comparative perspective.
* Assess the theoretical and conceptual tools in understanding Chinese politics.
* Evaluate key aspects of China's increasing presence in other parts of the world and its ramifications.

Skills: Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgment, reasoned argument and the planning/conduct/reporting of research are development and assessed in this unit.

Content: This unit will focus on theoretical assumptions about state-society relations and international development, and examine how Chinese state is made possible in the complex landscape where competing domestic demands and external geopolitical tensions are identified. It will include case studies inside and outside China.

Programme availability:

PL30898 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics (Year 3)
  • UHES-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHES-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHES-ACB01 : BSc(Hons) Economics and Politics with Combined Placement and Study Abroad (Year 4)
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA(Hons) French and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA(Hons) German and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA(Hons) Italian ab initio and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA(Hons) Spanish and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.