Global: China in Global Politics

Masteremne

Emnebeskrivelse

Mål og innhald

The elective course is focused on China as a global actor and Chinese politics and government in the 21st century. China is one of few remaining communist states in the world that not only has survived but has become a global political actor at the world stage. In this course, we will discuss what explains China's economic growth. We will further study the literature and data seeking to explain China's authoritarian resilience and how resilient the Chinese Communist Party appears in the face of technological and economic change. Finally, the course will focus on the limits to this resilience, China's model of development and the changes under Xi Jinping's leadership. Materials will include readings, lectures, and selected films.

Læringsutbyte

A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student knows

  • major debates on China as global political actor at the world stage
  • key lines of conceptual-analytical contestation about how to study authoritarian resilience
  • key empirical insights on the links between China's economic growth and autocratic politics

Skills

The student can

  • evaluate, synthesize, and critically appraise existing social science research on autocratic regime, with a focus on China
  • develop and apply their own conceptual-analytical approach to the politics and governance of China as a global actor
  • identify and analyze relevant empirical analyses of China's development model independently and in a nuanced manner.

General competence

The student can

  • identify and present complex phenomena in the field of global politics and autocratic resilience
  • develop, present, discuss and defend own arguments about scholarly readings and empirical phenomena in dialogue with peers
  • structure and moderate group discussions in an inclusive manner

Studiepoeng, omfang

5 ECTS

Studienivå (studiesyklus)

Master

Undervisningssemester

Spring, irregular (not taught every year)
Krav til forkunnskapar
Students must have completed a bachelor's degree in political science or equivalent (subject to approval by the administration of the Department of Government), or a bachelor´s degree in social sciences, psychology or law.
Tilrådde forkunnskapar
A background in social science theory and methods recommended.
Studiepoengsreduksjon
None
Krav til studierett

The course is open to students enrolled in master's programmes at the Department of Government.

Exchange students at master's level and students from other master's programmes at the University of Bergen with relevant backgrounds may be admitted upon application, subject to approval by the administration of the Department of Government.

Applications may be rejected due to capacity. The course gives priority to students accepted to the master's programmes at the Department of Government.

The maximum number of students is 15.

Arbeids- og undervisningsformer
Approximately 6 sessions (including one introduction and one concluding session and four sessions on different thematic blocs), organised as student-led discussions of key readings.  
Obligatorisk undervisningsaktivitet

The compulsory assignment includes two research briefs (2-3 pages each) which need to be delivered before the respective session based on the assigned readings and some guiding questions to be shared by the teacher. In addition, each student must take co-leadership for moderating one seminar discussion.

Attendance of at least five sessions is compulsory.

The compulsory assignment must be approved in order to take the exam. Approved compulsory assignments are valid in the current and following two semesters.

Vurderingsformer

Research essay of 2500 words (+/- 10%, excluding the title page, table of contents, references, tables, and all attachments) on China as a global actor. The teacher will share guiding questions for the task.

The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught. 

The exam answer can be submitted in English.

Karakterskala
Graded A-F
Vurderingssemester

Assessment in teaching semester.

A retake exam is arranged for students with valid absence according to § 5-5 in the UiB regulations.

If there is a retake exam, this will be available for students with the follow results/absences:

  • Medical certificate/valid absence
  • Interruption during the exam
  • Fail/failed

If you have the right to take a retake exam and a retake exam is arranged for students with valid absences, you can sign up yourself in Studentweb after 1. August.

Litteraturliste
The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.
Emneevaluering
All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.
Programansvarleg
The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses. 
Administrativt ansvarleg
Department of Government at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.