CHINA TODAY

The course is part of the integrative educational activities related to the Bachelor’s degree courses in “Sustainable Chemistry and Technologies” and “Engineering Physics” and is aimed at students who want to deepen their knowledge of contemporary China, where scientific research is increasingly advanced and focused on environmental issues, new technologies and renewable energy sources. The aim is to promote those skills connected with the human and social sciences within a context of internationalization of job markets and cultural environments, and a more in-depth exchange on sustainable development models.

At the end of the course the student will be able to critically understand the political and historical events, the economic changes, the cultural context and the major social phenomena of contemporary China; she/he should be able to critically discuss these topics in geopolitical terms.

There are no specific pre-requirements.

Content of the course will be the analysis of the politics, economy, culture and society of contemporary China, especially for what concerns the period from 1949 to the present. The reconstruction of historical discourses will be followed by scientific-technological discourses to point out the process of change within Chinese society both in terms of knowledge production and cultural imaginary. Disruptive phenomena such as the rapid urbanization, the use/misuse of resources and consequent environmental problems, migration, labour market, scientific-technological advancement and the digital will be analysed also in geopolitical terms.

Samarani, Guido (2017). "La Cina contemporanea. Dalla fine dell'Impero a oggi". Nuova edizione aggiornata e ampliata. Torino: Einaudi, pp. 185-439.
Robert E. Gamer; Stanley W. Toops (eds) (2017). "Understanding Contemporary China, Fifth Edition". Boulder, CO; London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
All additional readings are posted on moodle.

Oral examination on the content of the lessons and of the textbooks. During the examination for those who have attended the entire course in synchronous mode, we will proceed to the discussion of both the reference texts and the elaborate-materials carried out during the group work. For those who have not had this possibility, the exam will focus only on the reference texts and class material indicated in the same syllabus.

Lectures, dialogues, experiential learning aimed to understand the proposed themes. Group work.

Italian

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development