After experiencing decades of rapid economic growth, China has emerged as one of the most powerful countries in the world, and it is already having a profound impact on the global economy and international security. This class seeks to make sense of China’s complex political system. The course starts by focusing on modern Chinese history from the end of the Qing Dynasty to the economic reforms of the Reform and Opening Era. It then examines important features of modern Chinese governance such as center-local relations, fragmented authoritarianism, state-society relations, factionalism, the relationship between the CCP and state institutions, surveillance, censorship, the hukou system, and nationalism. The course then focuses on modern challenges in the governance of China including corruption, environmental degradation, slowing economic growth, and a looming demographic crisis. The course finishes by examining China under the leadership of Xi Jinping and how domestic politics influences its behavior on the world stage.