Universität Wien
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150076 UE Working with Academic Literature (Social Sciences) (2023W)

An introduction to Chinese politics and governance

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 15 - Ostasienwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The first session of the course takes place on 11 October 2023.

  • Wednesday 04.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 11.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 18.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 25.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 08.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 15.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 22.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 29.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 06.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 13.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 10.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 17.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 24.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10
  • Wednesday 31.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Sinologie 1 UniCampus Hof 2 2F-O1-10

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course will offer students a tutorial of how to conduct and write reviews of academic literature in an engaging manner. In addition, students of this course will have the opportunity to design and participate in the discussions of the latest research in the field of contemporary Chinese politics and governance. At the beginning of the course, students will be offered a list of academic research articles selected by the instructor from top academic journals of Chinese studies published in the last three years. Under the rubric of Chinese politics and governance, these articles cover a wide range of topics, including elite politics, military development, local governance, public policy making, EU-China relations, political governance, legal development, educational policies, etc. During the course, each student will have the opportunity to write, present and discuss at the class one’s own review of an article of one’s own choice from a given list of literature.

For details on the lecturer, see https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/persons/ling-li(6e7af4be-64e9-4710-ab22-f80660c6a3fe).html

Assessment and permitted materials

Success of the course depends on the timely submission of assignments by students. Please be aware that you are required to commit to the prescribed deadline. Otherwise, a penalty will be imposed on your grade.

Your attendance at each class session is mandatory. Preparation before class is essential for your participation in this course. You are expected to complete the reading assignments and other research tasks given to you before you come to the class.

The evaluation consists of three parts.

First, attendance and class participation. Second, the writing of a review essay on a piece of literature of one's own choice and the critique of the essay of a fellow-student at the class. Lastly, exam essay.

The workload of this course is moderate.

The class will NOT admit new students after its 3rd session (including the introductory session).

You will not be eligible for the exam if you miss more than 3 sessions. Absence for a session that you are assigned as the leading discussant needs to be announced at least one week ahead. Each absence will lead to a reduction of your attendance score, unless it is justified and pre-approved.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Grading scheme

Attendance and regular class participation 20%
Assignment 40% (Review 1, 30%, Review 2/critique, 10%)
Exam essay 40%

Grade conversion table
Score 100-90 Grade 1
Score 89-80 Grade 2
Score 79-70 Grade 3
Score 69-60 Grade 4
Score 59-0 Grade 5

Examination topics

To be discussed in the course.

Reading list

Selected Literature on Chinese Politics and Governance:
1.1 Zhang, C. (2017). "A Fiscal Sociological Theory of Authoritarian Resilience: Developing Theory through China Case Studies." Sociological theory 35: 63.

1.2 Zhou, X. (2022). The Logic of Governance in China: An Organizational Approach. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Chapter 10 Multiple logics of village elections

1.3 Zhou, X. (2022). The Logic of Governance in China: An Organizational Approach. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Chapter 6 Collusion among local governments

1.4 Fewsmith, J. and A. J. Nathan (2019). "Authoritarian Resilience Revisited: Joseph Fewsmith with Response from Andrew J. Nathan." Journal of Contemporary China 28(116): 167-179.

1.5 Wuthnow, J. (2023). "Who Commands the Gun? Mobilization and Use of China's Armed Police." The China Quarterly 253: 74-89.

1.6 Han, R., J. Du and L. Shao (2023). "Opportunistic Bargaining: Negotiating Distribution in China." The China Quarterly 253: 141-157.

1.7 Brown, S. A. W. (2022). "Fraying at the Edges: A Subsystems/Normative Power Analysis of the EU's “One China Policy/Policies”." The China Quarterly 252: 1001-1024.

1.8 Ren, R. (2022). "Educational Success in Transitional China: The Gaokao and Learning Capital in Elite Professional Service Firms." The China Quarterly 252: 1277-1298.

1.9 Cheung, O. (2022). "Factional Model-making in China: Party Elites’ Open Political Contention in the Policy Process." The China Quarterly 251: 705-725.

1.10 Beck, F. and P. Nyíri (2022). "“It's All for the Child”: The Discontents of Middle-class Chinese Parenting and Migration to Europe." The China Quarterly 251: 913-934.

1.11 Xu, J. and S. He (2022). "Can Grid Governance Fix the Party-state's Broken Windows? A Study of Stability Maintenance in Grassroots China." The China Quarterly 251: 843-865.

1.12 Lee, C. K. (2022). "Global China at 20: Why, How and So What?" The China Quarterly 250: 313-331.

1.13 Rabe, W. and G. Kostka (2022). "Leaping over the Dragon's Gate: The “Air Silk Road” between Henan Province and Luxembourg." The China Quarterly 249: 160-182.

1.14 Walder, A. G. (2023). "China’s Extreme Inequality: The Structural Legacies of State Socialism." The China Journal 90: 1-26.

1.15 Zhang, Y. (2022). "Passive Political Legitimacy: How the Chinese Online Sphere Went from Challenging to Supporting the State within the Past Decade." The China Journal 88: 29-54.

1.16 Li, E. (2022). "Chinese Courts’ New Plea Leniency System: Scrutinizing the Efficacy of Mandatory Defense Counsel." The China Journal 88: 78-99.

1.17 Kohlenberg, P. J. (2016). "The Use of “Comrade” as a Political Instrument in the Chinese Communist Party, from Mao to Xi." The China Journal 77: 72-92.

1.18 Liu, C. and E. Friedman (2021). "Resistance under the Radar: Organization of Work and Collective Action in China’s Food Delivery Industry." The China Journal 86: 68-89.

1.19 Zhu, J. (2021). "Out of China’s Reach: Globalized Corruption Fugitives." The China Journal 86: 90-113.

1.20 Fitzgerald, J. (2020). "Cadre Nation: Territorial Government and the Lessons of Imperial Statecraft in Xi Jinping’s China." The China Journal 85: 26-48.

1.21 Ma, X. (2019). "Consent to Contend: The Power of the Masses in China's Local Elite Bargain." China review (Hong Kong, China: 1991) 19: 30.

Further reference materials are listed on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

WA PR

Last modified: Tu 14.01.2025 00:16