China:FromRevolutiontoReform

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This graduate seminar examines the history of the People’s Republic of China from its founding in 1949. It focuses on the Mao era (1949-1976) and the era of reform and opening-up. Students will read recent books in PRC history, discuss their scholarly context and methodology, and design and write an independent research paper. The seminar begins with frameworks, including the origins of revolution and the urban-rural divide. Students will also study political campaigns from the 1950s to the 1970s. The course will encompass themes such as culture, health, and the economy, among others. The latter part of the syllabus covers the transformations of the 1980s and after, including the reform era’s experiments and its attendant challenges. Background in Chinese history and Chinese language is helpful but not required; additional reading will be suggested to provide context. This course is cross-listed with Asian Studies and History, and open to undergraduates with instructor permission.