Politics, Economy and Society in China

2025/2026

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

2 year, 1 module

Instructor

Mazhinskiy, Stanislav

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course "Politics, Economics and Society in China" is an in-depth study of the relationship between political structures, economic development and social aspects in modern China. Students will examine key political and economic reforms that have occurred in the country over recent decades, their impact on society, and China's role in global politics and economics. The course also covers topics such as the Chinese development model, governance, social change, innovation and technology.

Learning Objectives

• The main learning objectives are: ● To give students a comprehensive overview of the basic Chinese cultural, political and social features and its impact on the modern Chinese state. ● To develop the basic skills of understanding and interpreting of inner China political and social processes as non-Western culture The course is conducted in the offline format.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Characterizes political and social events of modern Сhinese state, based on the understanding the specifics of Chinese cultural code; builds a cause-and-effect relationship of political decisions and social changes in modern China
• Describes and explains basic cultural features of China, its civilization characteristics, philosophical and traditional views
• Analyzes and interprets political developments in modern China and their impact on neighboring countries and on international relations
• Interprets the Chinese national economic and political agenda, based on regional and international trends in contemporary international relations.
• Characterizes social processes in China and discusses their development trends and takes these features into account in professional activities;

Course Contents

• Modern China
• Chinese National Character
• National Сhinese Policy
• Chinese economy and its features
• Modern Chinese Society

Assessment Elements

• In-class activity
  Lecturer evaluates students’ progress, including comprehension of lecture materials and assigned readings, as well as contribution to discussions. The component is calculated as an average grade achieved on all seminars. If a student is not able to attend the seminar due to illness or any other legitimate reason (relevant document should be provided), he/she is not graded for that seminar. A student can complete the tasks for a missed class and receive a grade. But in this case, the student cannot receive the maximum grade. In all other cases students are graded with 0 for the seminar they have missed.
• Exam
  The exam is conducted during the session in a written form. Each student is given a card with a question to be answered in write form within 60 minutes. Students may be exempted from the exam, based on the decision of the lecturer.

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 1st module
  0.4 * Exam + 0.6 * In-class activity

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Baizhu Chen. (2019). Financial Market Reform In China : Progress, Problems, And Prospects. [N.p.]: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2258023
• China under mao - a revolution derailed, Walder, A.G., 2017
• China’s 40 Years of Reform and Development : 1978–2018. (2018). Netherlands, Europe: ANU Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.ADA01123
• Chinese culture, Han, J., 2018
• Free trade zones in China : A guide. (2015). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.9580E888
• Ghose, B. (2014). Food security and food self-sufficiency in China: from past to 2050. Food & Energy Security, 3(2), 86–95. https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.48
• Guoqiang Tian. (2016). China’s Reform: History, Logic and Future. Frontiers of Economics in China, 11(2), 210–231. https://doi.org/10.3868/s060-005-016-0014-3
• Knowing China : a Twenty-First-Century Guide, Pieke, F.N., 2016
• Manfred Elfstrom, & Sarosh Kuruvilla. (2014). The Changing Nature of Labor Unrest in China. ILR Review, (2), 453. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.sae.ilrrev.v67y2014i2p453.480
• William A. Joseph. (2014). Politics in China : An Introduction, Second Edition: Vol. Second edition. Oxford University Press.
• Yuehping Yen. (2004). Calligraphy and Power in Contemporary Chinese Society. Routledge.
• Zhao, J. (2013). Theory of China Model and the Rise of China. [Place of publication not identified]: Paths International Ltd. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1285796

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Dirlik, A. (2002). Modernity as history: post-revolutionary China, globalization and the question of modernity. Social History, 27(1), 16–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/03071020110094183
• Elleman, B. A., & Paine, S. C. M. (2019). Modern China : Continuity and Change, 1644 to the Present (Vol. Second edition). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2007069
• Hu, A. (2013). The Political and Economic History of China (1949-1976). Singapore: Enrich Professional Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=580048
• Leese, D. (2006). Performative politics and petrified image : the Mao cult during China’s cultural revolution /.
• Review of China Financial System. (2012). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3386735
• Shao, B. (2015). China Under Xi Jinping : Its Economic Challenges and Foreign Policy Initiatives. Leiden: Brill. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=967888
• Tang, Y. (2015). Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity and Chinese Culture. Heidelberg: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=948225
• 许国彬, 陈彦辉, 许莲华, 陈开举, Xiong, X., & Wu, W. (2018). Introduction to Chinese Culture : Cultural History, Arts, Festivals and Rituals. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1743521

Authors

• Mazhinskii Stanislav Vitalevich