Course Catalogue

LJMU Partner Taught

1. To critically examine the history of contemporary China especially the origins of 'China's rise'
2. To understand the political and socioeconomic crises that China suffered through twentieth century and its impact on China's contemporary development.
3. To critically engage the contested meanings of modern Chinese revolution and the terms of communism, socialism and democracy in context.
4. To explore the international relations in which China's modern state-formation has taken place, and to study the great power relationships that has effects on China's domestic politics
5. To understand China's view of the western world and major European countries such as the US, Britain and continental Europe.
6. To critically analyse and evaluate the social and political challenges that contemporary China faces.

Outline Syllabus:
"I love my country but who loves me?" China in the end of the long 19th century
The West as the agonising mentor
1919: Salvation vs. enlightenment?
Communism vs. Nationalism (KMT): one or two state projects?
The Japanese War and the transformation of the communist state
The People's republic and the frustrating relationship with the USSR
Mao's China and the Cold War
From Bandung to the US: dialectics of openness and autonomy
Open and Reform: Is Mao still alive?
Tiananmen and the market: Crossing the river by feeling the stones

Module Overview:
This module is designed with the understanding that our extant historical knowledge(which is implicitly Eurocentric) needs to be globalised. It means that non-westernhistory should be better weighted and given due attention rather than seen as apassive receiver of western impacts. So it emphasises a lot on the multiplicity ofactors in the making of Chinese history and more importantly, their connections andcomplex relationships.