Chinese Politics Part 1 - China and Political Science (Coursera)

We also look at the origins, views, backgrounds and relations among leaders, and how those leaders make decisions about public policy and try to get those decisions implemented down through the system. China has few formal institutions through which citizens can participate in politics, but we will study the strategies Chinese people use to try to influence their leaders’ decisions. Finally, we assess China’s future and whether rapid economic development and the emergence of a vibrant middle class will push China towards greater democracy or whether the single party system is likely to survive into the future. The course is a quite useful background for Chinese Politics Part 2 – China and the World.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Orientation: Models of the Chinese Political System and the Structure of the Chinese Party/State

Before you start with the content for Module 1, please watch the Course Overview, review the Assignments and Grading page, and introduce yourself to other learners who will be studying this course with you.

WEEK 2

Elite Politics in China

WEEK 3

Policy Process in China

WEEK 4

Understanding Societal Engagement in Politics in China

WEEK 5

China’s Domestic and International Political Economy

WEEK 6

China’s Future: Democratization or “Flexible Authoritarianism”

WEEK 7

Final Exam and Farewell

Now is time to test your understanding on the entire course. Take the final exam and complete the post-course survey. Your valuable feedback will certainly help us improve future iterations of the course.