Asian Politics
Dr. Annie G. Dandavati
Pol. 303
4 credits
Lubbers Hall 222
Tuesday/Thursday: 9:30-10:50
Office Phone: 395-7984
Fall 2010
This course will focus on the following themes:
1. The cultural legacies of India and China and the fusion and intermingling of cultural
ideas of the two Asian powers
2. The similar and varied response of India and China to foreign incursions
3. The rise of nationalism and nationalist movements, revolution from within and without
4. Establishment of states and the rise of movements challenging state sovreignity
5. Difference between a parliamentary democracy and single party communist state
6. Debates regarding development and the responses to globalization
7. Compare and contrast Indian and Chinese models of development and subsequent
challenges
Books for purchase:
Sue Ellen Charlton: Comparing Asian Politics, Westview Press, 2010
June Grasso: Modernization and Revolution in China, M.E. Sharpe, 2009
Books that I am reading to find suitable articles for students and background information for
myself.
Awakening Giants, feet of Clay:Assessing the economic rise of China and India by Pranab
Bardhan, Princeton University Press, 2010
Billions of Entrepreneurs: how China and India are reshaping their Future and Yours by
Tarun Khanna, Harvard, 2008
China’s Political System by June Teufel Dreyer, Longman, 2009
China’s New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society by Daniel
Bell, Princeton University
East Meets West: Human Rights and Democracy in East Asia by Daniel Bell, Princeton
University
Chinese Mirror by Henry Rosemont, 1991
Yale Global Online
Week 1 - August 31st, September 2nd
Introductions and why study India and China together? Setting the stage – India and China in
comparative perspective. Why the study of India and China is relevant and establishing the
parameters of the trifecta of culture, politics and economics in the two rising powers of Asia
Week 2 - September 7th, September 9th
Examining some elements of Indian and Chinese Philosophies. The role of Confucius and Vedic
philosophies – caste system, Li (path) , Yi (action implemented) and Ren (the relation between
agent and object of the action), religion and social stratifications etc.
Readings: Roger Ames and Tu Wei-Ming
The Chinese Confucian Party by Daniel Bell, Feb. 19, 2010 in Globe and Mail
Confucius making a comeback in money-driven modern China by Maureen Fen, July 24, 2007 in
Washington Post Foreign Service.
Week 3 - September 14th, September 16th
Cultural Aspects- II Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Daoism.
Week 4 - September 21st, September 23rd
Opening up of India and China. Rise of Chinese and Indian Nationalism. The INC and the CCP.
Revolution from within and the Two World Wars. Satyagraha and the First and Second United
Fronts. The role of the British and the Japanese
Week 5 - September 28th, September 30th
Mao and Gandhi, Partition of the sub-continent and the creation of PRC and ROC
Week 6 – October 5th, October 7th
Building the power of the State and the rise of Protest Movements
Nehru and Mao – five year plans, the GLF and the Cultural Revolution
Tibet, Kashmir, Pakistan, and the Indo-Chinese War
Week 7 - October 12th, October 14th
Defining Sovreignity and Statehood and the relationship with the outside world
Korean War, Vietnam War, relation with the Soviets, Pakistan, Bangladesh
Cold War and NAM
Week 8 - October 19th (Fall Break – No Class), October 21st (Monday schedule)
Catch-up
Week 9 - October 26th, October 28th
Discourse on Development, Re-opening up of China and India
Deng Xiao-Peng (1979) and the Congress (1991)
Week 10 – November 2nd, November 4th
FDI, Knowledge-based economy and manufacturing economy
Outsourcing. Industrialization and agrarian structures.
Week 11 - November 9th, November 11th
Two distinct models of development, role of diaspora, emphasis on domestic entrepreneurship,
inter-dependence
Week 12 - November 16th, November 18th
Business Practices, rural-urban divide, environmental degradation, gender, inequalities, legal
frameworks, economic and monetary policy, SOEetc.
Week 13 - November 23rd, November 25th (NO CLASS – 25th – THANKSGIVING BREAK)
Class presentations
Week 14 - November 30th, December 2nd
Class Presentations
Week 15 - December 7th, December 9th
Class presentations
Topics for research and presentations will be determined in consultation with the professor.
Potential areas to focus on in a comparative perspective could include:
Environment, gender, religion, population, business practices and multi-culturalism.