Course Outline PLSC 341 - M. Usman Farooq
From the ruins of Cultural Revolution to Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms and market liberalization, China reemerged as the second largest economy of the world in terms of Gross Domestic Products (GDP), and largest economy of the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). On its domestic front, the communist regime has performed well in curbing growing poverty rate and lifting millions of Chinese out of extreme poverty. On international front China emerged as one of the largest aid donor countries to the global south and has become an important actor in global politics. It is asserting its influence and trying to present herself as model for the developing world. This course intends to explore the political history of modern China, the role of ideology particularly Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism in shaping the identity of modern China. The conception of state, the notion “one country, two systems” the political and historical background of ‘Cultural Revolution’, the politics of communist regime with Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Tibet, the ideas of nationalism and the issues of modern identity in China, various reforms in political, social and economic systems, an introduction to Chinese law, and China’s view on “rule of law”.