CONTEMPORARY CHINESE SOCIETY

This course has two goals: The first is to provide students with a deep and flexible understanding of the constantly changing phenomena that is “contemporary China.” The second is to use a focus on contemporary China to deepen our understanding of what it means for all of us to be alive in a changing and challenging world. We will discuss political systems, economic reforms and inequality, urbanization, modernization, technology, culture, popular media, family, gender, education, the environment and visions of the future.

Through an active participation in the planned learning activities and the individual study of the texts indicated in the bibliography the students are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Transferable theoretical knowledge
• A theoretical grounding in the key themes of the course that will allow students to adapt their understandings to a changing global world.
2. China specific knowledge
• A nuanced understanding of the specific changes and challenges facing contemporary China.
3. Research ability
• Through the final research essay, the capacity to pursue individual research on any question relating to the topic of the course. Students who excel in this course will be in a strong position to pursue independent research on contemporary China.

The course will be taught entirely in English. A general knowledge of history of China in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century will be beneficial but not assumed. Knowledge of English and modern Chinese are assumed.

• Political system and governance
• Economic reforms and inequality
• Technology and Society
• Culture, Identity and Popular Media
• Family, Gender, Social Norms
• Environmental Issues and Urban Sustainability
• International Relations, Global Influence
• The Future of Tianxia

The achievement of the expected learning outcomes will be judged asking the student to submit a written essay of approximately 5000-6000 words (in English or Italian). The short essay will concern one of the topics and sources discussed in class.

The essay should be submitted no less than two weeks before the final exam, which will be a short oral discussion of the student’s essay.

The evaluation of the essay will take the following aspects into account:
- The student's knowledge and understanding of the reading material assigned on the subject.
- The student's ability to illustrate and reflect on the topic on the basis of the work done in class with the instructor.
- The originality of the approach
- The clarity of the writing and argumentation.

The following grading schema will be applied:
28-30 – Outstanding and original application of knowledge obtained during the course; critical use of secondary research; fluently written and convincingly argued.
25-27 – Strong use of knowledge obtained during the course; critical use of secondary research; well written and argued.
22-24- adequate use of knowledge obtained during the course; adequate use of secondary research; adequately written and argued.
18-21- uneven application of knowledge obtained during the course; minimal use of secondary research; some writing problems and unclear argumentation.

Each week we will read one theoretical text and one text (or film, peice of music etc) specifically on contemporary China. In class we will use the specific Chinese case to help us understand the theoretical text. We will also explore China through film, music, and art. Please note that some of the theoretical texts will be difficult.