This course offers a conceptual framework for understanding China that highlights the intersection of politics and economics. It shows that rather than develop into a full blown market economy, state and party officials at all levels of the political system maintain significant influence in economic development. Such a “political” economy has had both positive and negative outcomes, which we will assess in detail. We also look at the origins, views, backgrounds and relations among leaders, and how those leaders make decisions about public policy and try to get those decisions implemented down through the system. China has few formal institutions through which citizens can participate in politics, but we will study the strategies Chinese people use to try to influence their leaders’ decisions. Finally, we assess China’s future and whether rapid economic development and the emergence of a vibrant middle class will push China towards greater democracy or whether the single party system is likely to survive into the future. The course is a quite useful background for Chinese Politics Part 2 – China and the World.
Course Overview video: https://youtu.be/7FpNL67EbE4
Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via Coursera
Overview
Syllabus
- Orientation and Module 1: Models of the Chinese Political System and the Structure of the Chinese Party/State
- Before you start with the content for Module 1, please watch the Course Overview, review the Assignments and Grading page, and introduce yourself to other learners who will be studying this course with you.
- Module 2: Elite Politics in China
- Module 3: Policy Process in China
- Module 4: Understanding Societal Engagement in Politics in China
- Module 5: China’s Domestic and International Political Economy
- Module 6: China’s Future: Democratization or “Flexible Authoritarianism”
- Final Exam and Course Evaluation
- Now is time to test your understanding on the entire course. Take the final exam and complete the post-course survey. Your valuable feedback will certainly help us improve future iterations of the course.
Taught by
David ZWEIG
Tags
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Reviews
4.8 rating, based on 41 Class Central reviews
4.8 rating at Coursera based on 344 ratings
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Un curso fascinante y bien estructurado que ofrece una comprensión profunda de la política china, combinando teoría y casos prácticos. Ideal para quienes buscan explorar la realidad política de uno de los países potencia actuales.
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I really enjoyed this course and I value this course, because here, in my country there is no easy way to learn anything about countries of the far-east.
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I learned a lot about the Chinese political system in this amazing course. The lectures were easily accessible and the professor was an excellent teacher.
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In an interdependent world where China is playing a more vital role in the global economy, this course dives into discussing China`s polical economy model. It provides a wide range of Chinese politics in terms of how power is distributed and exercised, how policies are affected in relations to elites` attitude and also the historical development of China`s productive forces relative to the period of reform.
It is a very good course presented simply by Prof. David Zweig. -
This course has pleasantly surprised me with its depth and clarity. Professor David Zweig has an absolutely proven command of the subject and puts together something especially interesting: he is of Western (Canadian) origin, but has experienced Chi…
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Chloe Lenhance my understanding of the political structure of modern China
will recommend to someone who want to know more the circumstance of China and how the operation works in China government
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I wanted to learn about China and chose this course out of personal interest. I have really enjoyed it and found it very interesting. The delivery method has been great for me because the lectures were broken up into chunks of between 5 and 15 minutes and I sometimes can only get that much time being a stay at home dad a couple of days a week. Also, I've been considering going back to university and doing this course has helped me get a sense of what that might look like for me and also helped me build my confidence in being able to study something.
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The lectures are interesting and informative. However, the graded assignments and learning assessments are terrible. It is akin to the typical reasons that people grow to hate history. Rather than testing for knowledge of important concepts, the quizzes focus on pedantic facts and figures (even going so far as to ask for exact percentages in some circumstances).
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If you are interested in the domestic politics of countries other than your own and also want to have a basic understanding of how China conducts its internal politics, this course may be for you. It undoubtedly reviews the most important events that have happened, are happening, and may happen in China's future. And it leaves you with a valuable lesson.
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Great course, it covers many critical points about China's political structure. I took this course to complement a course that I am currently taking in my in-person studies. It really helped me improve my grade and understanding!
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this course is too lengthy, but it supposed to be. satisfied with the material provided. Hopefully it will help me in learning more about Chinese politics as i have an aim to pursue my phd in it.
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This course was well organized and well presented. The visual aids were appropriate and timely. Highly recommended as a means to begin to understand Chinese politics.
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I like this course content. The instructor and provider are excellent. I hope to take a course in Chinese Politics Part 2 : China and the World. Thank you and good bye.
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I like this course content. The instructor and provider are excellent. I hope to take a course in Chinese Politics Part 2 : China and the World. Thank you and good bye.
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I like this course content. The instructor and provider are excellent. I hope to take a course in Chinese Politics Part 2 : China and the World. Thank you and good bye.
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Um curso muito completo com todos os parâmetros necessários para se compreender a política da China moderna. Realizar este curso ampliou muito da minha visão sobre a construção da política e toda a sua complexidade socioeconômica ao longo das décadas até se transformar numa grande potência global.
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Allen PlantVery good introduction to Chinese politics, clear classes with lots of helpful slides, and exams/quizzes to help remember all the various topics. -
Professor was incredibly knowledgeable and experienced with the course content, and the content being taught was extremely useful and interesting.
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Helpful to learn more about Chinese Politics! Even as a Chinese, I learnt a lot from the course which I don't know before.
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Good course for those who have some concept about China's economic development and political system.
