Modern China: From the Birth of Mao ... to Now

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to major themes in twentieth-century Chinese history, including the transition from empire to nation, revolution, social change and modernization, western imperialism, Chinese colonialism, the rise of the party-state, Chinese socialism and mass movements, economic liberalization, and more. Throughout, we examine the transformation of gender, ethnic, and class relations that occurred across the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. The first half of the class is devoted to the period (1911-1949) between the fall of the imperial system and the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). If the victory of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and development of the socialist state are to be considered in historical context, it is necessary to first understand the political, cultural, economic, and intellectual currents that preceded them. During the second half of the course, we will examine the CCP as both a state-building institution and an engine of social transformation and look at the tensions these dual roles produced for the state and society. Finally, we will touch upon the Reform Period (1978-2008) and reflect on a newly robust China's attempts—during the self-declared "New Era" of Xi Jinping—to come to terms with its own recent past and what the consequences might be for both China and the world. Throughout the course, we rely heavily on primary material in translation to discuss both these issues and the use of sources in the construction of history. From trade disputes, to the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Xinjiang, Covid and the White Paper protests, and more, stories about China appear in the world media on a daily basis. Students are asked to pay attention to these discussions and to think about how they fit into the story of modern China that is unfolding in class. This course meets the Dietrich…