This course aims at examining the main aspects of Chinese politics—how the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is politically organized and governed. The emphasis will be a historical and comparative description of the governmental institutions, political culture, and political party—the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). We will also discuss and assess the CCP-PRC government’s policy-making in the areas of the economy, sociocultural affairs, disease-control, and foreign policy. The aim is to understand the internal sociopolitical structure and dynamics of the PRC as a rising world power, representing an alternative mode of sociopolitical governance and a distinctive model of economic development.

There is no special requirement for taking this course except a willingness to read, think, and learn. The class will be organized as a seminar with a clear emphasis on having an extensive classroom participation of the students. The student is expected to participate in classroom discussions. The assigned readings are expected to be finished before classes.