This course examines the foreign policy of China, the only other country that is capable and intends to reorganize the world, with profound implications for all of us. We will explore the history of Chinese foreign relations, Chinese worldviews and diplomatic tradition, with analysis of China's international position in the post-Cold War world. The focus of the course will be on the key factors, considerations, and limitations in the making and implementation of Chinese foreign policy. Finally, the course will discuss the major challenges and issues Beijing now faces abroad and assess its actions, with the backdrop of the rapidly rising Chinese power and in the context of U.S.-China relations.
There is no special requirement for 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 assigned readings are expected to be finished before classes.
An effort of following the current events relevant to the PRC especially its foreign relations is highly encouraged. Publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the South China Morning Post as well as the web-based news services list below are useful sources for up-to-date information of China in English:
China Digital Times: http://chinadigitaltimes.net
China Media Project: http://cmp.hku.hk
China Watch: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/china-watch/
The Atlantic-China: http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/categories/china/
China Daily: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/index.html
John W. Garver, China's Quest: The History of the Foreign Relations of the People's Republic, Oxford U Press, 2018 (Garver). https://academic.oup.com/book/12799
Marc Lanteigne, Chinese Foreign Policy: An Introduction, 4th Edition, Routledge, 2020 (Lanteigne). https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Foreign-Policy-Marc-Lanteigne/dp/1138345407
Fei-Ling Wang, The China Race: Global Competition for Alternative World Orders, SUNY Press, 2024 (Wang). https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/cart?domain=sunypress.edu
Suisheng Zhao, The Dragon Roars Back: Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy, Stanford U Press, 2022 (Zhao). https://www.sup.org/books/politics/dragon-roars-back
Requirement Marks (%)
Participation/Attendance 200 20
Group Presentation 200 20
Reading Reports 300 20
Policy Memo 300 40
Total 1,000 100
Two unexcused absences will incur penalty.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.