The Rise of China
Dr. Tan, Forrest Qingshan
Spring 2016
Office: RT 1749
Classroom： MC312
A Special Topic Course
10-11:15am
Office hour: 11:30-12:30
Or by appointment
China’s rise as an world economic and political power is perhaps the most important
event that could change and challenge the world order shaped by the United States in the
post WWII era. This course aims to introduce to students the concept of China rising,
which has caused considerable debates on its meaning and implication regarding China’s
own development and her relations with the rest of the world. The rise of China is a very
complex subject. It concerns the ongoing evolution of China’s domestic political system
and economy and China’s role in and impact on the international system. This course
analyses the processes, instruments, and contents that make up the rise of China. Then it
exams the impact of such a rise with regard to China’s foreign relations and China’s
foreign policy behaviour. In this context, students will be introduced to different views on
the challenge and possible threat that rise of China could present to Asian and the world
in general, and to the Sino-US relations in particular. Finally, the course examines the
implications of China’s rise on regional and global developments.
The objective of this course is to enable students to use domestic and international
structural perspectives to study the issues involved in the rise of China. Students will be
able to critically analyse the factors underlying China’s political and military
development and explore the meaning of rise of China in relations to global economic
and political development.
On completion of this course, students should be able to analyse key trends and
developments in the rise of China; understand the regional and global implications of the
rise of China; and develop and present coherent arguments concerning the rise of China.
Course Requirements
Students are required to be actively involved in class discussion and presentation. The
course encourages discussion and debate of the issues involved in the rise of China.
Apart from reading assignments and class attendance, each student is asked to make a
class presentation based on the term paper. There will be two exams, the mid-term and
final (take home exam). Term paper is the main research paper to be completed by the
end of the semester. Students may select topics based on the issues and themes of the
lectures and textbooks. Students are encouraged to talk the instructor about the selection
of paper topics. The paper length for each essay is 5 pages, double-spaced. The term
paper is 10 page, double-spaced. Each short essay will be due at the end of each section
and the term paper is due on last day of class. The following formula will be used to
determine the final grade:
*Class participation:
Mid-term
Final
The Term paper
Presentation
10 percent
20 percent
20 percent
40 percent
10 percent
* This is defined as class attendance, and discussion. For each student to miss 3 classes,
the participation grade will be no more than 10 percent.
The Textbooks for the course:
C. Fred Bergsten , Bates Gill , Nicholas R. Lardy , Derek Mitchell , China: The Balance
Sheet: Where the World Needs to Know Now About the Emerging Superpower, Public
Affairs, 2006.
Thomas J. Christensen, "The China Challenge: Shaping the Choices of a Rising Power,"
1st Edition, 2015.
David Shambaugh, "China Goes Global: The Partial Power," 1st Edition, 2013.
Aaron L. Friedberg, "A Contest for Supremacy: China, America, and the Struggle for
Mastery in Asia," 2011.
Ted Fishman, "China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America
and the World," 2006.
Recommended Readings:
De Bary, W. and R. Lufrano (comps.), Sources of Chinese Tradition Volume Two: From
1600 Through the Twentieth Century, Columbia University Press, New York, 2000.
Deng, Y. and Fei-Ling Wang (eds.), China Rising: Power and Motivation in Chinese
Foreign Policy, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Lanham, 2005.
Lampton, D. (ed.), The Making of Chinese Foreign and Security Policy in the Era of
Reform, 1978-2000, Stanford University Press, Stanford, 2001.
Reardon, L. The Reluctant Dragon: Crisis Cycles in Chinese Foreign Economic Policy,
University of Washington Press, Seattle, 2002.
You Ji, The Armed Forces of China, Allen & Unwin, St. Leonards, 1999.
Zhao, Suisheng (ed.), Chinese Foreign Policy: Pragmatism and Strategic Behavior, M.E.
Sharpe, Armonk, 2004.
Suggested websites useful for research:
China, Min. of Foreign Affairs
China Daily
China Internet Information Center
Chinese Military Power
www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng
www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/home/index.html
www.china.org.cn/english/
www.comw.org/cmp/
Course Outlines and Readings:
Section one: Domestic Processes, Instruments, and Contents of China’s Rise
Week One: Deng Xiaoping’s reform policy set the stage
Jan. 19, Class introduction and course requirements
Jan. 21, Deng Xiaoping’s reform policy
Readings: Fishman, introduction to Chapter 3.
Week Two: Twists and turns in reform
Jan. 26. How the economy developed: The case of Shanghai
Readings: Fishman, chapt. 4
Jan. 28. Mao’s legacy
Readings: Fishman, chapt. 5
Week Three: China interacts with the outside world
Feb. 2. China’s Opening to the World
Readings: Fishman, chapt. 6,7.
Feb. 4. Foreign Investment in China
Readings: Fishman, chapt. 8,9.
Week Four: Evaluating the rise of China: domestic and historical processes
Feb. 9. China’s rise: a comparative perspective
Readings: Bergsten et al. chapt. 1; Friedberg, chapt. 1.
Feb. 11. China: continued growth or collapse?
Readings: Bergsten et al. chapt. 2,3.
Section two: China’s Rise in the World Economy
Week Five: China’s rise: opportunity or threat?
Feb. 16. Debate on China’s rise
Readings: Bergsten et al. chapt. 4
Feb. 18. Is China a partner or rivalry?
Bergsten et al. chapt. 5.
Week Six: China and US Relations: Constructively competitive?
Feb. 23. US-China relations in historical perspective
Readings: Friedberg: Introduction and chapt. 2
Feb. 25: From Containment to “Congagement.”
Readings: Friedberg: chapt. 3,4.
Week Seven: Changing perspectives
Mar. 1. US changing views on China
Readings: Friedberg: chapt. 5,6
Mar. 3. China’s new strategy
Readings: Friedberg: chapt. 7,8.
Week Eight: Bew Balance of Power
Mar. 8. US-China economic relations
Readings: Fishman, chapt. 10,
Mar. 10. Alternative strategies
Readings: Friedberg: chapt. 9,10,11.
Section 3: China Goes Global
Week Nine: Understand China’s global impact
Mar. 22. China’s global identity
Readings: Shambaugh, chapt. 1,2.
Mar. 24. China’s diplomatic reach
Readings: Shambaugh, chapt. 3,4
Week Ten: China’s economic and cultural reach
Mar. 29: China’s economic influence
Readings: Shambaugh, chapt. 5,6.
Mar. 31: Accommodating China
Readings: Shambaugh, chapt. 7,8.
Section 4: Understanding China’s Rise
Week Eleven: Accepting China’s rise
Apr. 5: China’s rise: why it is real?
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 1
Apr. 7. The Chinese century?
Readings: Fishman, chapt. 11, 12.
Week Twelve: China’s rise in a globalized world
Apr. 12. Is this time different?
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 2
Apr. 14. Is China really powerful?
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 3
Week Thirteen: China’s strategic challenge
Apr. 19. China’s strategic posture
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 4
Apr. 21. China and the world order
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 5
Week Fourteen: Shaping China’s choices
Apr. 26. China’s rise in the context of Soviet collapse
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 6
Apr. 28. China’s rise in the post 9/11
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 7
Week Fifteen: Financial crisis and China’s rise
May 3. China becoming a financial power
Readings: Christensen, introduction and chapt. 8
May 5. Conclusion