POLS 3250 CHINESE POLITICS Spring 2019 Instructor: Yesola Kweon Time and Location: T & Th, 9:00am - 10:15am (GEOL 105) Contact: yesola.kweon@usu.edu Office Hours: T & Th 12:00pm-1:00pm or by appointment (Old Main 320B) Teaching Assistant: Micala Gillespie (micala.gillespie@aggiemail.usu.edu) Overview This course covers the politics of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) from the Maoist era until the present day. It first reviews political, economic, and institutional characteristics of the Maoist period. Then this course discusses the political and economic reform since the late 1970s. We will focus on why and how particular reform strategies and policies were chosen, and why they were successful or unsuccessful. The last third of the class will address various political and social challenges that the current Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has faced, and how the party has responded to these new challenges such as increasing popular protests, economic inequality, and changing public attitudes. The course will conclude by discussing the prospects for political changes in China and the viability of the China model. Course Objectives 1. Gaining factual knowledge (IDEA #1 ) 2. Learning fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories (IDEA #2 ) 3. Learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view (IDEA #11 ) Requirements News Posts (15%) (IDEA #1 ): Every week, students are required to post one news article or column on Chinese politics on the Canvas discussion page accompanied by a short reflection piece (NOT summary) (100 to 150 words). Students are also required to make a comment on at least two posts by their classmates each week. 1
The aim of this assignment is to keep students up to speed with current events in the region and to hone their critical reading and analytical skills. Good sources for current events in China include, but not limited to: Major News Media: The Economist The New York Times The Washington Post BBC The Wall Street Journal South China Morning Post PRC Media: Caixin Media China Daily People s Daily Sina.com News Other sources: China Times ChinaFile China Development Brief China Elections & Governance China Leadership Monitor China Track (political economy) China Vitae (bios of elites) Group Policy Analysis Presentation (20%) (IDEA #1 ): At the start of the term, students will be placed into groups and asked to present their policy analysis on a chosen issue in Chinese politics and facilitate an in-class discussion. The entire presentation and discussion should be about 50 minutes. The first 30 minutes should be devoted to the presentation of the groups analysis and the remaining 20 minutes for class discussion. Examples of issues that presenters can address include, but are not limited to, pollution, housing, migrant labor, or regional inequality. Topics do not have to be limited to ones covered in class. A good presentation will: 1) clearly identify key problems and issues that are related to a chosen topic in the context of Chinese politics; 2) identify causes and effects of those problems as well as political actors with diverse interests involved in the issue; 3) explain how the Chinese government has attempted to addressed these issues and evaluate whether the current measures are effective; 4) provide policy suggestions to help resolve the problems under consideration and to overcome any limitations present 2
in the existing policy; 5) prepare three to five discussion questions for classmates and facilitate in-class discussion. Evaluation will be implemented by both the instructor (10 points) and students in audience (10 points). For students evaluation, I will distribute a marking rubric and give presenters a grade that is an average of all of their peer s responses. Teamwork is important for this group project, if there is any member who does not participate in preparing for the presentation, other group members should notify the instructor in advance, and if need be, a grade will not be given to that member. Three Quizzes (30%) (IDEA #1 ): We will have three concept identification quizzes (open book) throughout this semester. On each quiz, students will write the definition and significance of five terms covered in class in previous weeks. The test will be given in the first 25 minutes of the class. Each concept worths 2% (1% for the definition and 1% for the significance), and each quiz accounts for 10% of the total grade. Dates for quizzes are noted on the course schedule below. No substitute test will be given. Research Paper (20%) (IDEA #1, #2, ): Students are required to write a research paper on China s regime stability. The essay should be 5 to 7 page long (12 pt, Times New Roman, double spaced), and have a proper essay structure (an introduction, 3 4 bodies, and a conclusion). Students are expected to critically examine the question about whether China s one-party rule will last in the long-term. In making an argument, students should not focus only on short-term changes and current events in China, but approach the question more broadly. In particular, an argument should be based on a student s comprehensive review of divergent scholarly perspectives on various topics that are relevant for regime stability such as government accountability, political legitimacy, economic development, government structure, state-society relations, and/or historical legacies that are covered in class. An argument should be coherent, and supported by empirical evidence drawn from materials covered in class AND from students own independent research. Assigned readings should be cited to demonstrate students understanding of relevant texts, and at least five additional sources (e.g. academic articles, books, and policy reports (no Wikipedia or lecture notes!)) should be cited. Proper citations should be used. Plagiarized essay will be given F. The paper should be submitted by 11:59pm on April 28th via Canvas. Attendance and participation in class discussions (15%): Students should come to class and actively participate in class discussion. I will take attendance on either the Tuesday or Thursday class with no prior announcement. After three absences, I will begin to dock attendance points (2% each time on group-presentation days, 1% each time on any other session). Please note that the materials presented in class will range beyond the readings and you are responsible for all materials covered in class. So if you miss the lecture, you will miss testable materials. This is an active-learning course. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussion. Participation affects your grade. So please engage in class discussion, ask questions, ask for clarification, comment, and answer queries. 3
Readings All readings will be provided on Canvas. Only those with asterisk are mandatory readings. Others are optional. Grading Scales 93-100 A 77-79 C+ 59 and below F 90-92 A- 73-76 C 87-89 B+ 70-72 C- 83-86 B 67-69 D+ 80-82 B- 60-66 D Other Course and University Policies Academic Integrity Plagiarism, cheating or academic misconduct in any manner will not be tolerated and will result in an F for the course. All written assignments and exams will be thoroughly checked for plagiarism and cheating. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with and observe Utah State Universitys policies against cheating and plagiarism. The Universitys Code of Student Conduct in relation to academic integrity violation is available at https://studentconduct.usu.edu/aiv. Students with Disabilities USU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for eligible students with disabilities, including students who have learning disabilities, health impairments, psychiatric disabilities, and/or other disabilities. If you believe you have a disability which requires accommodation, please contact me or the Disability Resource Center so that the necessary arrangements can be made. More information is available at http://www.usu.edu/drc/ Late Assignments and Missed Quizzes All assignments (e.g., weekly news posts) should be turned in on time. Late assignments will not be accepted. Unless I have agreed well in advance to an alternative date, all assignments should be turned in on or before the due date. The only excuses allowed will be those in line with university policy. All quizzes will be given on a date marked on the course schedule in the first 25 minutes of the class. No substitute test will be provided. 4
Civility and Courteous Behavior Civility in the classroom and respect for the opinions of others is very important in an academic environment. It is likely you may not agree with everything which is said or discussed in the classroom. However, classroom discussion is meant to allow us to hear a variety of viewpoints, and this can only happen if we respect each other and our differences. To create and preserve a classroom atmosphere that optimizes teaching and learning, students are expected to be on time, and electronic devices such as cell phones must be turned off during class. Laptops are allowed only for taking notes. Text messaging and emailing/websurfing are not permitted in class. Syllabus Change I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus during the course of the semester as needed and will make the most updated copy available to students and announce said changes during class. 5
Course Outline 01/08: Course Overview 01/10: Introduction: Did We All Got China Wrong? The Economist. 2018. How the West Got China Wrong. * Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China. Ch1. (only pp.3-26) 01/15: The Collapse of Qing and the Fight for the Modern State Lu Xun, 1922, Preface to Outcry. * Lu Xun, 1918, A Mad Man s Diary.* Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China. Ch1. *** The Maoist Era *** 01/17: The Communist Road to Power Part I Dreyer. 2010. China s Political System Ch4* Saich. 2011. Governance and Politics of China. Ch1. Movie: China in Revolution Part I 01/22: The Communist Road to Power Part II Lieberthal. 2004. Governing China. Ch4. (only pp.66-84)* 01/24: The Establishment of the PRC and the Socialist Transformation Lieberthal. 2004. Governing China. Ch4. (only pp.84-103)* Saich. 2011. Governance and Politics of China. Ch3. Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China. Ch3. (only pp.72-96) 6
01/29: The Great Leap Forward Lieberthal. 2004. Governing China. Ch4 (only pp.103-122)* Bachman. 1995. Chinese Bureaucratic Politics and the Origins of the Great Leap Forward. Journal of Contemporary China 9: 35-55. Jung and Chen. 2011. The Tragedy of the Nomenklatura: Career Incentives and Political Radicalism during China s Great Leap Famine. American Political Science Review 105(1): 27-45. Movie: China in Revolution Part II 01/31: The Cultural Revolution Mao Zedong. Classes and Class Struggle and On the Correct Handling of Contradictions. Quotations of Mao Zedong* Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China. Ch3. (only pp.96-118) 02/05: *** GROUP PRESENTATION 1 *** 02/07: The Road to Economic Reform I Shirk. 1993. The Political Logic of Economic Reform in China. Ch2.* Saich. 2011. Governance and Politics of China. (pp.34-66). Teiwes and Sun. 1999. China s Road to Disaster. (only 5-15). 02/12: The Road to Economic Reform II Zhao Zhiyang. Advancing Along the Road of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. in Schell and Shambaugh ed. The China Reader. (pp.50-77).* Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China. Ch4. Naughton. 2007. The Chinese Economy. Ch4. Movie: Born Under the Red Flag 7
*** Socialism with Chinese Characteristics *** 02/14: Economy Part I: Rural Economy (TVEs) (In-class Quiz 1 ) Naughton. 2007. Ch12.* Oi. 1995. The Role of the Local State in China s Transitional Economy. China Quarterly 144:1132-1149. Naughton. 2007. The Chinese Economy. Ch4&12. 02/19: Economy Part II: Urban Economy (SOEs) Naughton. 2007. The Chinese Economy. Ch13.* Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China. Ch10. Huang. 2003. Selling China: FDI during the Reform Era. Ch3. Zheng. 2017. Privatization with Vested Interests in China. Socio-economic Review (In Print) 02/21: Economy Part III: Private Sector and Informal Economy Huang. 2008. Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics. Ch3.* The New York Times. 2018. Anbang Takeover Sends Blunt Message: China Wants to Fix Its Debt Problem. * Tsai. 2002. Back-Alley Banking. Ch1&2. Tsai. 2006. Adaptive Informal Institutions and Endogenous Institutional Change in China. World Politics 59(1): 116-141. 02/26: *** GROUP PRESENTATION 2 *** 02/28: Politics Part I: The Tiananmen Movement Guthrie. 1995. Political Theater and Student Organizations in the 1989 Chinese Movement: A Multivariate Analysis of Tiananmen. Sociological Forum 10(3): 419-454.* Zuo and Benford. 1995. Mobilization Processes and the 1989 Chinese Democracy Movement. The Sociological Quarterly 36(1): 131-156. 8
03/05: Politics Part II: The Structure of Power Saich. 2011. Governance and Politics of China. Ch5.* Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China Ch3&6. Li. 1994. University Networks and the Rise of Qinghua Graduates in China s Leadership. Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs 32:1-30. Teiwes. 2001. Normal Politics with Chinese Characteristics. China Journal 45:69-82. Miller. 1996. Official Ideology in Transition. Science and Dissent in Post-Mao China. (pp.31-60). Shi et al. 2010. Gauging the Elite Political Equilibrium in the CCP. China Quarterly: 79-103. 03/07: Politics Part III: Fragmented or Consultative Authoritarianism? Distelhorst and Hou. 2017. Constituency Service under Nondemocratic Rule: Evidence from China. The Journal of Politics 79(3): 1024-1040.* Chen et al. 2016. Sources of Authoritarian Responseiveness: A Field Experiment in China. American Journal of Political Science 60(2): 383-400. Mertha. 2009. Fragmented Authoritarianism 2.0: Political Pluralization in the Chinese Policy Process. China Quarterly 200: 995-1012. Yang.2004. Remaking the Chinese Leviathan. Ch3. Tanner. 1994. The Erosion of Communist Party Control over Lawmaking in China. China Quarterly 138: 381-403. Lieberthal and Oksenbert. 1988. Policy Making in China (only pp.330-338). Huang. 2012. Signal Left, Turn Right: Central Rhetoric and Local Reform in China. Political Research Quarterly 66(2): 292-305. 03/11 15: SPRING BREAK (No Class) *** Future Trajectory of China: Change or Adaptation? *** 03/19: Economic Inequality and Floating Population I (In-class Quiz 2 ) Whyte. 2010. Myth of the Social Volcano. Ch1&3.* Knight. 2013. Inequality in China: an Overview. The World Bank Research Observer. Movie: Last Train Home 9
03/21: Economic Inequality and Floating Population II Wallace. 2013. Cities, Redistribution, and Authoritarian Regime Survival. The Journal of Politics 75(3): 632-645.* Wallace. 2014. Cities and Stability: Urbanization, Redistribution, and Regime Survival in China. Li. 2006. Floating Population or Urban Citizens? Status, Social Provision and Circumstances of Rural-Urban Migrants in China. Social Policy&Administration 40(2): 174-195. 03/26: *** GROUP PRESENTATION 3 *** 03/28: Collective Action O Brien. Popular Protest in China. Ch8.* Reuter. 2018. China s Student Activists Cast Rare Light on Brewing Labor Unrest. * Chen. 2012. Social Protest and Contentious Authoritarianism in China. Fu 2017. Disguised Collective Action in China. Comparative Political Studies 50(4): 499-527. O Brien. Popular Protest in China. Saich. 2011. Governance and Politics of China. Ch6. Joseph ed. 2014. Politics in China. Ch9. 04/02: Political Attitudes and Public Opinion Truex. 2017. Consultative Authoritarianism and Its Limits. Comparative Political Studies 50(3): 329-361.* Pan and Chen. 2018. Concealing Corruption: How Chinese Officials Distort Upward Reporting of Online Grievances. American Political Science Review 112(3): 602-620. Dickson. 2010. Allies of the State. Ch4. Teets. 2013. Let Many Civil Societies Bloom: The Rise of Consultative Authoritarianism in China. The China Quarterly 213: 19-38. Diskson. 2003. Red Capitalists in China. Ch1. (only pp.1-23) Hung. 2015. International Knowledge and Domestic Evaluations in a Changing Society: The Case of China. American Political Science Review 109(3): 613-634. 10
04/04: Conference Travel (NO CLASS) 04/09: *** GROUP PRESENTATION 4 *** 04/11: Media Politics and Political Communication King et al. 2013. How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression. American Political Science Review 107(2): 326-343.* Hobbs and Roberts. 2018. How Sudden Censorship Can Increase Access to Information. American Political Science Review 112(3): 621-636. Pan. 2017. How Chinese Officials Use the Internet to Construct Their Public Image. Political Science Research and Methods (In Print). Huang et al. Forthcoming. Media, Protest Diffusion, and Authoritarian Resilience. Political Science Research and Methods. 04/16: *** GROUP PRESENTATION 5 *** 04/18: *** In-class Discussion: China Model? *** (In-class Quiz 3 ) Tsai and Xu. 2017. Outspoken Insiders: Political Connections and Citizen Participation in Authoritarian China. Political Behavior (In Print).* Zhao. 2006. Political Liberalization without Democratization. in Zhao ed. Debating Political Reform in China. Ch2.* Wright. 2010. Accepting Authoritarianism. Introduction.* Kennedy. 2010. The Myth of the Beijing Consensus. Journal of Contemporary China 19(65): 461-477.* Zhao. 2010. The China Model: Can It Replace the Western Model of Modernization? Journal of Contemporary China 19(65): 419-436. Naughton. 2010. China s Distinctive System: Can It Be a Model for Others? Journal of Contemporary China 19(65): 437-460. Nathan. 2008. China s Political Trajectory: What are the Chinese Saying? in Li ed. China s Changing Political Landscape (only pp.25-43) Shambaugh. 2016. China s Future. Ch1. Dickson. 2016. The Dictator s Dilemma. Ch1. 04/23: *** Review and Q&A Session for Research Paper *** 04/28: *** RESEARCH PAPER DUE (by 11:59pm via Canvas) *** 11