Politics and Public Policy in China

Code

POLI2053

School

Politics and International Relations

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the politics and public policy of contemporary China. Students will be familiarized with useful approaches to the study of Chinese politics. In the first part of the module, they will develop knowledge and understanding of the evolution of authoritarianism in China, the structure of the party-state and the role of its major branches, changes or main policies in the recent decades, and crisis and epidemic management. In the second part, students will compare and contrast the genesis of mainland China's rudimentary welfare state with the example of Bismarck's German Empire, which is widely credited as the birthplace of the welfare state in Europe. Following an overview of the policy-making cycle and public administration in China, students will explore the challenges of implementing regulatory and redistributive policies under authoritarian conditions. They will put insights into practice by critiquing public policies in China, ranging from labour and migration through education to health.

Target Students

Available to Year 2 UG students in the School of Politics and International Relations on single and joint honours plans. Also available to Year 2 UG students on the Philosophy, Politics and Economics plan, incoming exchange students based in the School of Politics and International Relations, and Ningbo International Studies students.

Classes

This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.

Assessment

• 50% Coursework 1: 2,000-word coursework
• 50% Coursework 2: 2,000-word essay

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

(A) Knowledge and Understanding
- By the end of the module, students should be able to comprehend and evaluate different research approaches to Chinese politics and public policy. 
- Students will develop the ability to understand the basic structure and operation of the political system, including its authoritarianism, its branches and their power, and crisis/epidemic management. They will develop an understanding of the evolution of the political system as well as the policies of the recent top leaders.  
 

(B) Intellectual and Transferrable Skills 
- By the end of the module and in their portfolio assignment, students should be able to critically assess the aspects and operation of the political system in China.  
- They will develop a critical awareness of state-society relations under the conditions of authoritarianism by distinguishing between 'official China' represented by the Chinese Communist Party and 'unofficial China', represented by autonomy-seeking civil society actors. 
- They will develop the ability to use sources critically and effectively, especially regarding the dynamics of China's politics and public policy.  
- Through the essay research and writing they can develop their ability to understand and assess the operation of the whole or part of the political system and have the ability to apply institutional analysis.  
- They will develop the skill to present complex issues in a clear and well-structured analysis in plain English and in a scholarly manner. 
- Furthermore, students should be able to develop a sustained and reasoned argument, whilst evaluating and articulating weakness in the arguments of others and engaging with the existing intellectual debates on the subject matters. 
 

(C) Digital Capabilities 
- Ability to log into a portal, look up relevant links and read relevant information and publications concerning individual lectures ability to download and submit documents from the portal (the module page on Moodle) ability to type up and present writings in formal electronic format.  
- Ability to use ICT-based tools to carry out assigned tasks effectively.  
- Ability to collate, manage, access and use digital data, especially for coursework research. 
- Ability to develop an understanding of the module contents in a digital and online setting.

Conveners

• Dr Hongyi Lai