HIST284B/AAAS284A China in the Contemporary World

Time: M&W 2:20-3:20 Instructor: Prof. Fa-ti Fan

Place: EB110 E-mail: ffan@binghamton.edu
Office: LT 708
Office hours: M 10:30-12:00; W 12:30-2:00

This course examines post-reform China in a historical and global perspective. China has become a
prominent presence in newspapers, TV broadcast, cultural references, and political discussions in this
country and indeed internationally. All agree that when it comes to China, there is much to talk about, but
few agree on what China is and what it will become. What happened during China's economic reform in
the late 1970s and early 1980s? Why and how did China's economy grow so fast in the past couple of
decades? With the growth of its economic power, China is playing an increasing role in international
affairs. What does this mean to its neighboring states and beyond? Networks of Chinese migrants and
traders have made their impact felt not only in Asia, but also in Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Internally, Chinese society and culture has gone through dramatic changes in one generation, and the
phenomena of internal migration, urbanization, youth culture, growing economic inequality, new
nationalism, environmental degradation, and economic challenges have exploded onto the scene. None of
these phenomena can be understood in isolation from the contemporary world as China is part of an ever-
intensified web of global interdependencies. (This course assumes no prior knowledge of Chinese history
or language.)

Learning Objectives:

Students will understand the major themes in the development of modern science and technology, and
they are expected to be able to explain and interpret the intellectual, cultural, and social contexts in which
science and technology became fundamental components of modern societies. Students will write their
own expository essays explaining and arguing for certain historical perspectives and interpretations.

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend all class meetings for the entire duration of the class meeting. Missing
more than 20% of the class meetings without a legitimate excuse may result in a failed grade.

Required Textbooks:

Judith Shapiro, Chinas Environmental Challenges

David Shambaugh, Chinas Future
Yu Hua, China in Ten Words
Tamara Jacka, Contemporary China
Evan Osnos, Age of Ambition

Course Requirements:

Midterm I and II (take home) 20% each

Final exam (take home) 25%
Quizzes 10%
Discussions 25%
This course is a 4-credit course, which means that in addition to the scheduled meeting times, students are
expected to do at least 9.5 hours of course-related work outside of class each week during the semester.
This includes time spent completing assigned readings, participating in discussion sessions, studying for
tests and examinations, preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.

Academic Honesty and Integrity:

Any breach of academic honesty is a serious offense and will be reported to the Academic Honesty
Committee for Harpur College. Please go to the following website and read the information carefully.

http://www2.binghamton.edu:8080/exist5/rest/lists/2_academic_policies_and_procedures_all_students/ac
ademicPoliciesAndProcedureAllStudents.xml?_xsl=/db/xsl/compose.xsl

Students may be required to upload their midterm and final papers to Turnitin.com. No late papers will be
accepted without prior approval.

History Learning Outcomes

1. Learn to read primary and secondary sources with a critical eye and express these ideas in effective
papers; to analyze a variety of different types of written texts (or in some cases material evidence or oral
accounts) and identify how each of them is shaped by author, audience, and the context in which they
were constructed.
2. Develop the ability to communicate effectively in writing in a manner that is coherent, well-developed,
and expressive of complex thought.
3. Improve the ability to think critically and to argue effectively.
4. Learn about the interactions between different groups within a single society and how these
relationships have affected the development of respective regions, ethnicities or identities.
5. Improve the ability to recognize and develop connections between historical issues and life outside the
classroom.
6. Enhance the ability to examine current issues from a historical perspective.
Students in Social Science (N) courses will demonstrate:
1. Knowledge of major concepts, models, and issues (and their interrelationships) of at least one of the
social sciences: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, or sociology.
2. An understanding of the methods used by social scientists to explore social phenomena, including,
when appropriate to the discipline, observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data
collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and analysis by mathematics or other interpretive
frameworks.
Students in G courses will demonstrate:
Knowledge of how two or more distinctive world regions have influenced and interacted with one another
and how such interactions have been informed by their respective cultures or civilizations. }|]

Weekly Topics:

Week 1 (8/21-8/25) Introduction

Week 2 (8/28-9/1) Republican China to Early PRC

Jacka, 1-21.
Week 3 (9/4-9/8). Mao Era I
Yu, 15-61; 113-141.
* no class meeting on 9/4.

Week 4 (9/11-9/15). Mao Era II

Yu, 142-180.

Week 5 (9/18-9/22). From Reform to Tiananmen

Yu, 3-14; Osnos, ch. 10.

Week 6 (9/25-9/29). Economic Takeoff

Jacka, ch. 5.
* Midterm I due in class, 9/27.

Week 7 (10/2-10/6). Wealth and Society

Osnos, ch. 4, 5, 17.

Week 8 (10/9-10/13). Inequalities: Urban/Rural, Coastal/Inland

Jacka, ch 3, 11.

Week 9 (10/16-10/20). Cultural Production and Consumption

Jacka, ch. 9; Yu, 203-225.
* no class meeting on 10/16

Week 10 (10/23-10/27). New Nationalism

Osnos, ch. 9, 22; Jacka, ch. 7.

Week 11 (10/30-11/3). Control and Resistance

Osnos, ch. 11-16; Jacka, ch. 13.

Week 12. (11/6-11/10). Environmental Challenges

Shapiro, ch. 2, 3.

*Midterm II due in class, 11/6.

Week 13. (11/13-11/17). Environmental Politics

Shapiro, ch. 4, 5.

Week 14. (11/20-11/24). Workshop of the World and Then?

Shambaugh, ch 2.

* No class meeting on 11/22

Week 15. (11/27-12/1). Challenges and Uncertainties

Shambaugh, chaps 3, 4.

Week 16 (12/4-12/8). Whither China?

Shambaugh, ch. 5.

*Final paper due 12/11 noon.