When Xi Jinping assumed leadership of China in 2012, he inherited a country with formidable challenges – from sharp economic disparities to environmental degradation to international outrage over human rights. This class will look at how he has handled those challenges – by considering the very recent history of China since 1978 and the sheer difficulties of governing the world’s most populous nation. In the process, students acquire a nuanced understanding of the controversies that surround government policy. The course will incorporate a wide range of source material, including documentaries and scholarly essays in anthropology, natural sciences, political science, and sociology in English.

Course Requirements:

This class will require energetic participation in classroom discussions (20%); written responses to readings before class of around 500 words (25%); joint presentations on classroom readings of ten minutes (20%); minutes on classroom discussions (5%); a presentation of your proposal for the final project (10%); and a final research project, which may be undertaken collaboratively (20%).

Intended Audience:

Undergraduates

Class Format:

This course will be taught entirely online but students must be available for class meetings during the scheduled class time.