Visualizing Global China

Catalog description

Amidst China's burgeoning global economic presence, understanding its motivations and deciphering its overseas activities is vital. The Belt and Road Initiative and other expansive infrastructure endeavors underscore China's ambitions. However, the opacity of the Chinese government's plans poses a challenge for comprehensive research. This course introduces geovisualization as a lens to illuminate the spatial dynamics of China's global ventures. Using the extensive "Mapping Global China" database and geovisualization tools, students will investigate China's overseas investments' spatial patterns. This hands-on exploration will unravel the multifaceted impacts across various geographies. By course completion, students will adeptly harness spatial analysis to discern the nuances of China's worldwide economic endeavors and their broader implications. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: CORE SSPC/IPC; GCS Major Elective: Politics, Economy, and Environment of China; GCS Major: China and the World; Social Science Methods course.