The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Division of Social Science
SOSC 4280: CHINA IN THE GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
Spring, 2014-2015
Room 5583 (lifts 27-28)
Monday, 4:30 – 5:50pm; Friday, 12:00noon – 1:20pm
Lecturer: Dr. James K. WONG
Room 3002 (lift 4)
E-mail: jameskalei@ust.hk
Office hours: By e-mail appointment
Teaching Assistant: Mr. Ka Lun NG
Room 3001 (lift 4)
E-mail: glenng@ust.hk
Office hours: By e-mail appointment
Course Description
This course examines China's development from a global political economy perspective. The first part
of the course introduces major concepts, themes and theoretical frameworks in the field of global
political economy. The second part studies a variety of issues concerning China's economic
development since 1978. The overarching questions are: why there is the ‘China’s Rise’ and what its
implications are to the rest of the world. Students benefit from the analytical knowledge and skills
for understanding contemporary China in the globalized world.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be better equipped to:
1. Knowledge:
(a) Explain and discuss key concepts and themes in the study of global
political economy.
(b) Analyze the causes and consequences of the economic development of
contemporary China from the perspective of global political economy.
(c) Reflect on the relationship between China and the world in the context of
global interdependence.
2. Skills:
(a) Collect and integrate evidence about China’s development.
(b) Apply conceptual/theoretical tools to analyze and discuss issues about
China’s development.
(c) Communicate ideas, claims and arguments effectively.
3. Attitude:
(a) Exercise independent and critical judgments in the debates about
contemporary China.
(b) Recognize the significance of the global perspective in making sense of
contemporary China.
SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
Pre-requisites
To enroll in this course, students must have completed at least ONE of the following courses:



HUMA 2590: The Making of the Modern World: Renaissance to the Present
SOSC 1350: Contemporary China: Continuity and Change
SOSC 2290: Understanding Globalization
Teaching
Three hours of lecture per week. Starting from March, there are slots dedicated to students’ delivery
of their critical memos (details as below). Satisfactory attendance at lectures is required.
Requirements and Grading




Critical memo assignment (group-based)
Mid-term quiz (individual-based)
Research paper (individual-based)
Class participation (individual-based)
25%
20%
45%
10%
IMPORTANT: Failure to complete any of the first THREE tasks (i.e., critical memo assignment,
mid-term quiz and research paper) may result in a failure grade for this course. ALL students in a
group are expected to contribute reasonably to the group assignment. Any forms of ‘free-riding’ are
strictly unacceptable.
1. Critical Memo Assignment (25%)
[ILOs #1(b), 1(c), 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 3(a) & 3(b)]
Students will form into groups of 2 to 4 (NB: Group size depending on enrollment). Each
group will prepare a critical memo to discuss, from the perspective of global political economy,
ONE issue about China’s development between 1978 and present. Each memo should offer a
distinct interpretation and analysis of the issue at hand as well as engage the relevant concepts
covered throughout the course.
Starting from March, there will be slots dedicated to the presentation of critical memos. Each
group will submit a written critical memo of about 6 to 8 pages on the day of the presentation
(one hard copy in class plus a soft copy to LMES). This written memo will account for 15% of
the final grade. Marks will be deducted for late submission at 3% per day.
Each group will make a presentation on their policy memo for about 10 to 15 minutes. This
presentation will account for 10% of the final grade. Each presentation is followed by a
discussion session, during which students are expected to raise critical questions to the
presenters.
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SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
Grouping will be finalized by February 16 (Monday). A lot-drawing session will be arranged
on February 23 (Monday) to determine the order of priority in choosing the slots for
presentations.
All critical memos will be graded on the basis of: (i) interpretation of the issue; (ii) quality of
argument; (iii) quality of evidence; (iv) application of relevant concepts and theories; and
(v) structure, clarity and appropriate use of language. Students are reminded of an important
principle: quality, rather than quantity, matters the most.
2. Mid-term Quiz (20%)
[ILOs #1(a) & 2(c)]
A closed-book quiz will take place on March 30 (Monday). The quiz aims to assess students’
understanding of the concepts, themes and theoretical frameworks in the study of global
political economy (i.e., Part I of the course). It contains questions that require short answers.
3. Research Paper (45%)
[ILOs #1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 2(a), 2(b), 2(c), 3(a) & 3(b)]
Students are required to individually produce ONE research paper in 10 to 15 pages. Similar to
the critical memo assignment, each student will choose to analyse and discuss, from the
perspective of global political economy, ONE issue about China’s development between 1978
and the present. However, students must NOT choose the same topics as those for their own
critical memo assignments.
Students should submit a 1-page paper outline on April 10 (Friday) (one hard copy in class
plus a soft copy to LMES). This outline will account for 10% of the final grade.
The research paper is due at 5pm on May 15 (Friday) (one hard copy to TA plus a soft copy to
LMES). Marks will be deducted for late submission at 3% per day. Papers submitted 7 days
after the deadline will NOT be graded. The paper will be graded based on the same set of
criteria as that for the critical memo assignment, and will account for 35% of the final grade.
4. Class Participation (10%)
[ILOs #1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 2(b), 2(c), 3(a) & 3(b)]
Students are expected to participate actively in all class activities and discussions. Again,
quality matters more than quantity. Attendance is a pre-condition for participation. To score
well for participation, students must be able to show good attendance records.
* Note: To prepare for the writing assignments, students are strongly encouraged to attend the
research and writing tutorial sessions organized by the School of Humanities and Social Science.
Details TBA.
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SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
Course Communication
All announcements will be made through the course website in the LMES (http://lmes2.ust.hk).
Supplementary course materials and other learning resources will also be posted on the website. In
addition, students may make use of the discussion platform for further participation.
Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism and cheating are serious offences, and are taken very seriously by the University.
Students are reminded of the consequences for violating University’s regulations governing
academic integrity and honesty. For details of the regulations, please visit the following website:
http://tl.ust.hk/integrity/student-1.html.
Policy on Make-up Arrangements
Under most circumstances, NO make-up quiz will be arranged. In case students miss the quiz due to
medical or family emergency, they must contact the Lecture or TA within 7 days, and present
appropriate evidence (e.g., medical documentation from a registered practitioner) in order to request
for a make-up quiz. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The format of the make-up quiz,
if any, may differ from that of the original one.
Useful Texts
Ronen Palan (ed.) (2013) Global Political Economy: Contemporary Theories (2nd edition),
Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. [online]
John Ravenhill (ed.) (2014) Global Political Economy (4th edition), Oxford/New York: Oxford
University Press. [HF1359 .G577 2014]
Barry Naughton (2007) The Chinese Economy: Transition and Growth, Cambridge, MA: The
MIT Press. [HC427.95 .N38 2007]
Doug Guthrie (2012) China and Globalization: The Social, Economic and Political
Transformation of Chinese Society (3rd edition), Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
[HC427.95 .G875 2012]
Nicholas Lardy (2002) Integrating China into the Global Economy, Washington D.C.:
Brookings Institution. [online]
Ming Wan (2014) The China Model and Global Political Economy: Comparison, Impact, and
Interaction, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. [HC427.95 .W328 2014]
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SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
Class Schedule and Readings
Feb 2 (Mon)
Introduction

Mark Beeson (2013) The Rise of China and the Future of the International
Political Economy, in Ronen Palan (ed.) Global Political Economy:
Contemporary Theories (2nd edition), Abingdon, Oxon; New York:
Routledge, pp. 232-243.

Manfred Steger (2003) Globalization: A Very Short Introduction,
Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press, Chapter 3 (‘The Economic
Dimension of Globalization’). [online]
PART I: THE GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY PERSPECTIVE
Feb 6 (Fri) &
Feb 9 (Mon)
Feb 13 (Fri)
Theoretical Frameworks of Global Political Economy

John Ravenhill (2011) The Study of Global Political Economy, in John
Ravenhill (ed.) Global Political Economy (4th edition), Oxford/New York:
Oxford University Press, pp. 3-24.

Matthew Watson (2014) The Historical Roots of Theoretical Traditions in
Global Political Economy, in John Ravenhill (ed.), pp. 25-49.

Ngaire Woods (2008) International Political Economy in an Age of
Globalization, in John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens (eds.) The
Globalization of World Politics, Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press,
pp. 242-261. [JZ1242 .G58 2008]

Anthony McGrew (2014) The Logics of Economic Globalization, in John
Ravenhill (ed.), pp. 225-254.
The Changing Nature of the State


Mick Moore (2013) Late Twentieth-century Globalization: The Evolution
and Differentiation of States and Forms of Public Authority, in Ronen Palan
(ed.), pp. 17-28.
Colin Hay (2014) Globalization’s Impact on States, in John Ravenhill (ed.),
pp. 255-282.
Feb 16 (Mon)
** NO MEETING – Class rescheduled for May 6 **
Feb 20 (Fri)
** NO MEETING – Lunar New Year Break **
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SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
Feb 23 (Mon)
Feb 27 (Fri)
Business and Corporations

Richard Phillips (2013) The Firm, the Corporation and Contemporary
Capitalism, in Ronen Palan (ed.), pp. 29-45.

Eric Thun (2014) The Globalization of Production, in John Ravenhill (ed.),
pp. 283-304.
Labour
Robert O’Brien (2013) Labour Shapes the Global Political Economy, in Ronen
Palan (ed.), pp. 46-57.
Mar 2 (Mon)
Money and Finance

Anastasia Nesvetailova (2013) Money and Finance in a Globalized
Economy, in Ronen Palan (ed.), pp. 58-74.

Eric Helleiner (2014) The Evolution of the International Monetary and
Financial System, in John Ravenhill (ed.), pp. 173-197.

Jan Aart Scholte (2008), Global Trade and Finance, in John Baylis, Steve
Smith and Patricia Owens (eds.) The Globalization of World Politics, pp.
450-467.
PART II: CHINA’S RISE: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES
Mar 6 (Fri)
Mar 9 (Mon) &
Mar 13 (Fri)#
China’s Rise in the Global Political Economy

John Mearsheimer (2006) China’s Unpeaceful Rise, Current History,
105(690): 160-162. [online]

Chin C. Lee (2012) China as a Rising World Power: Chinese Press
Discourses, Chinese Journal of Communication, 5(1): 38-42.

G. John Ikenberry (2008) The Rise of China and the Future of the West: Can
the Liberal System Survive? Foreign Affairs, 87(1): 23-37. [online]

Susan Strange (1975) What is Economic Power and Who has it?
International Journal, 30(2): 207-224.
Openness and Economic Reforms


Barry Naughton (2007) The Chinese Economy: Transition and Growth,
Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, Chapters 4 & 5.
David Zweig (2010) China’s Political Economy, in William Joseph (ed.)
Politics in China: An Introduction, Oxford; New York: Oxford University
Press, pp. 192-224. [JQ1510 .P655 2010]
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SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015

Doug Guthrie (2012) China and Globalization: The Social, Economic and
Political Transformation of Chinese Society (3rd edition), Abingdon, Oxon:
Routledge, Chapter 1 (‘Globalization and the Economics of Radical Change
in China’), Chapter 2 (‘Setting the Stage: A Primer to the Study of China’s
Economic Reforms’) and Chapter 4 (‘China in the Global Economy’).

Aimin Chen (2005) Urbanization: The Chinese Way, China and World
Economy, 1: 15-31. [online]

Hugh White (2009) The Geo-strategic Implications of China’s Growth, in
Ross Garnaut et al., China’s New Place in a World in Crisis: Economic
Geopolitical and Environmental Dimensions, ANU E Press. [online]
Mar 16 (Mon) & Industrial Reorganization
Mar 20 (Fri)#
 Barry Naughton (2007) The Chinese Economy: Transition and Growth,
Chapter 13.


Stoyan Tenev and Chunlin Zhang (2002) Corporate Governance and
Enterprise Reform in China: Building the Institutions of Modern Markets,
Washington: World Bank/IFC. [online]
Zhikai Wang (2006) The Growth of China’s Private Sector: A Case Study of
Zhejiang Province”, China and World Economy, 3: 109-119. [online]

Guy Liu, Pei Sun and Wing Woo (2006) The Political Economy of
Chinese-style Privatization: Motivation and Constraint, World Development,
34(12): 2016-2033. [online]

Yingyi Qian (2001) Government Control in Corporate Governance as a
Transitional Institution: Lessons from China, in Joseph E. Stiglitz and Shahid
Yusuf (eds.) Rethinking the East Asian Miracle, Washington D.C.: World
Bank/Oxford University Press, pp. 295-322. [online]
Mar 23 (Mon) & The Role of the Party-State
Mar 27 (Fri)#
 Dali Yang (2003) State Capacity on the Rebound, Journal of Democracy,
14(1): 43-50. [online]

Bruce Dickson (2000) Cooptation and Corporatism in China: The Logic of
Party Adaptation, Political Science Quarterly, 115(4): 517-540. [online]

Dali Yang (2004) Remaking the Chinese Leviathan, Stanford, California:
Stanford University Press, Chapter 1 (‘Economic Transition and the Problem
of Governance in China’). [HC427.95 .Y36 2004]

Shaoguang Wang and Angang Hu (2001) The Chinese Economy in Crisis:
State Capacity and Tax Reform, New York: An East Gate Book, Chapter 1
(‘State Capacity’). [HJ2981 .W357 2001]
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SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
Mar 30 (Mon)
** Mid-term Quiz **
Apr 3 (Fri) &
Apr 6 (Mon)
** NO MEETING – Easter Break **
Apr 10 (Fri) &
Apr 13 (Mon)#
Trade and Foreign Investment

Barry Naughton (2007) The Chinese Economy: Transition and Growth,
Chapters 16 and 17.

Nicholas Lardy (2002) Integrating China into the Global Economy,
Washington D.C.: The Brookings Institution, Chapter 1 (‘China Enters the
WTO’), Chapter 2 (‘China’s Pre-WTO Trade Reforms’) and Chapter 3
(‘China’s Accession to the WTO’).


Francois Gipouloux (1998) Integration or Disintegration? The Spatial Effects
of Foreign Direct Investment in China, China Perspectives, 17: 6-13. [online]

Edward Graham and Erika Wada (2001) Foreign Direct Investment in China:
Effects on Growth and Economic Performance, in Peter Drystale (ed.)
Achieving High Growth: Experience of Transitonal Economies in East Asia,
Oxford: Oxford University Press. [online]


Apr 17 (Fri) &
Apr 20 (Mon)#
Margaret M. Pearson (2001) The Case of China’s Accession to GATT/WTO,
in David Lampton (ed.) The Making of Chinese Foreign and Security Polity
in the Era of Reform, 1978-2000, Stanford: Stanford University Press, pp.
337-370. [DS779.27 .M33 2001]
World Bank (2010) Foreign Direct Investment – The China Story. [online]
David Zweig (2002) Internationalizing China: Domestic Interests and
Global Linkages, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, Chapter 3
(‘Internationalizing Rural China: Exports, Foreign Direct Investment, and
Developmental Communities’). [HF1604 .Z395 2002]
Financial Development

Barry Naughton (2007) The Chinese Economy: Transition and Growth,
Chapter 19.

Gregory Chin and Eric Helleiner (2008) China as a Creditor: A Rising
Financial Power? Journal of International Affairs, 62(1): 87-102. [online]


Gregory Chin (2014) China’s Rising Monetary Power, in Eric Helleiner and
Jonathan Kirshner (eds.) The Great Wall of Money: Power and Politics in
China’s International Monetary Relations, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
[online]
Liping He (2005) Evolution of Financial Institutions in Post-1978 China:
Interaction between the State and Market, China and World Economy, 6:
8
SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
10-26. [online]
Apr 24 (Fri) &
Apr 27 (Mon)#

Edward Steinfeld (2002) Moving Beyond Transition in China: Financial
Reform and the Political Economy of Declining Growth, Comparative
Politics, 34(4): 379-398. [online]

John Langlois (2001) The WTO and China’s Financial System, The China
Quarterly, 167: 610-629.

Pieter Bottelier (2007) Accelerating Reforms in China’s Financial System,
China Brief, Vol. 6, Issue 24. [online]
Chinese Labour

Ngai Pun and Jenny Chan (2012) Global Capital, the State and Chinese
Workers: The Foxconn Experience, Modern China, 38(4): 383-410. [online]

Jenny Chan, Ngai Pun and Mark Selden (2013) The Politics of Global
Production: Apple, Foxconn and China’s New Working Class, New
Technology, Work and Employment, 28(2): 100-115. [online]

Chak Kwan Chan and Zhaiwen Peng (2011) From Iron Rice Bowl to the
World’s Biggest Sweatshop: Globalization, Institutional Constraints, and the
Rights of Chinese Workers, Social Service Review, 85(3): 421-445. [online]


May 1 (Fri)
Jenny Chan and Mark Selden (2014) China’s Rural Migrant Workers, the
State, and Labour Politics, Critical Asian Studies, 46(4): 599-620. [online]
Hilary K. Josephs (2013) Productions Chains and Workplace Law
Violations: The Case of Apple and Foxconn, The Global Business Law
Review, 3(2): 211-227. [online]
** NO MEETING – Labour Day **
May 4 (Mon)# & Economic Inequalities
May 6 (Wed)*
 Doug Guthrie (2012) China and Globalization: The Social, Economic and
Political Transformation of Chinese Society (3rd edition), Abingdon, Oxon:
Routledge, Chapter 6 (‘Changing Life Chances’).

Ming Lu and Hong Gao (2011) Labour Market Transition, Income Inequality
and Economic Growth in China, International Labour Review, 150: 101-126.
[online]

Yanqiu R. Zhou (2008) Economic Reform, Neoliberal Globalization and
Social Policy: Reconstructing the Relationship between the State, the Market
and the Citizens in China, Global Social Policy, 8(1): 115-128. [online]

Arif Dirlik and Roxann Prazniak (2012) Social Justice, Democracy and the
Politics of Development: The People’s Republic of China in Global
Perspective, International Journal of China Studies, 3(3): 285-313. [online]
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SOSC 4280 (14-15) / 22 Jan 2015
May 8 (Fri)

Dylan Sutherland and Shujie Yao (2011) Income Inequality in China Over 30
Years of Reforms, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy, and Society,
4(1): 91-105. [online]

Robert Wade (2014) Growth, Inequality, and Poverty: Evidence, Arguments
and Economists, in John Ravenhill (ed.), pp. 305-343.
The China Model and the Global Political Economy

Ming Wan (2014) The China Model and Global Political Economy:
Comparison, Impact, and Interaction, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, Chapters
1 (‘China’s Rise, the China Model and Global Governance’), 2 (‘The China
Model’) and 7 (‘The China Model from a Global Perspective’).

Yasheng Huang (2011) Rethinking the Beijing Consensus, Asia Policy, 11:
1-26.

John Williamson (2012) Is the “Beijing Consensus” Now Dominant? Asia
Policy, 13: 1-16.
# Presentation sessions
* Make-up session
Important Dates
Feb 16 (Mon)
Feb 23 (Mon)
Mar 30 (Mon)
Mar 13, 20, 27 (Fri)
Apr 10 (Fri)
Apr 13, 20, 27 (Mon)
May 4 (Mon)
May 6 (Wed)
May 15 (Fri)
Deadline: Grouping for critical memo assignment
Lot drawing for critical memo assignment
Mid-term quiz
Presentation of critical memos
Deadline: Research paper outline
Presentation of critical memos
Presentation of critical memo(s)
Make-up session
Deadline: Research paper
Quality Assurance
Students are welcome to offer comments and suggestions on the course.
The principal concern of this course is students’ learning, and therefore, the lecturer may modify the
schedule if this will facilitate their learning.
Revised edition
22 January 2015
10