China and the U.S. Economic and Political Relations: Past, Present and Future

Catalog description

The economies of the U.S. and China have recently been defined as a "Superfusion," that is the interconnection of the two leading national economies and economic systems in the world economy. In the last 20 years, this has been the result of the recent seismic shift in the global economy and political relations between the two nations. Business activities and competitiveness have been at the heart of this transformation and fusion of the two. This course will focus its attention on how this Superfusion has come about at this point in history. The course will trace the relationship of the development of the U.S. and Chinese economies from 1850 to the present. It will analyze the forces that led to the first opening up of trade between the two nations and the initial business relationships formed. It will also connect the political relationships of China and the U.S. with these developments. The course will track the highs and lows of U.S. and Chinese economic and business relations through the late 19th and the 20th Centuries up until the present day. This exploration will include the role of capitalism and socialism in the world as they both developed and the forces that created the changes in both economic systems. Two contrasting models of economic development will be explored: the U.S.'s more business centered market economy (Corporate Capitalism) and the Chinese government's guided planned market system (Government Driven Social-Capitalism). Each of these will be analyzed for their strengths and weaknesses, and they will be related to the two different political systems of individual-oriented democracy and socially-based autocracy. This course aims to help both American and international students to understand Chinese economy in the era of globalization and the interaction between China and the rest of world. The major theme focuses on the process of China's…