POLS411-12W (C) Whole Year 2012
World Politics: Transforming Asian Societies

Description

"There are currently over 20, 000 students studying in the U.S. and other Western countries, almost all of them the children of the Chinese elite. It is hard to believe that when they return home to run the country they will be content for China to be the only country in Asia unaffected by the larger democratizing trend."

Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History,” 1989.

Francis Fukuyama’s predictions have fallen far short of reality, yet they reflect a commonly held perception among many Western commentators about China. What is the nature of politics in China today and is the West still interpreting China through a Cold War lens? China is the largest and, arguably, nowadays the most important power in New Zealand's closest geopolitical region. New Zealanders urgently need to invest in the knowledge to understand the implications of this shift in the balance of power. This course will help students develop an in-depth understanding of the key issues in Chinese politics in the current era.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should have a good grasp of the key issues in Chinese domestic and foreign policy and the implications of China's rise for New Zealand and globally.

Pre-requisites

Restrictions

Equivalent Courses

For further information see School of Social and Political Sciences.