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The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Chinese Politics Part 2 – China and the World

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via Coursera

Overview

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One of the most significant changes in the world in the past 30 years is the opening of China to the outside world and its engagement with that world. In the initial years of the opening, external forces influenced China’s economy, regional balances, bureaucracy, as well as the political authority of local leaders in the coastal areas. More recently, the world is feeling the effects of a rising China which seeks resources and talent from all around the globe and uses its financial wealth to strengthen its position in the world. This course tracks the opening of China up from 1978 until it joins the WTO, focusing on how the world affected China’s internal development. We then look at various aspects of China’s “going out strategy” — its search for energy, talent, as well as its relations with the United States and the states within the Asia-Pacific region. The instructor has been deeply engaged in research on all these topics, having lived in China during various stages of China’s opening to the outside world.

Course Overview video: https://youtu.be/7FpNL67EbE4

Syllabus

  • Orientation and Module 1: China’s Opening to the Outside World, 1978-2000
    • Before you start with the content for Module 1, please watch the Course Overview, review the Assignment and Grading page, and introduce yourself to other learners who will be studying this course with you.
  • Module 2: China’s Changing Relations with the World, 2000-2016
  • Module 3: China’s Global Search for Energy and Resources
  • Module 4: China’s Global Search for Talent and Technology, 1978-2016
  • Module 5: China’s Rise and the World: A Panel Discussion
    • In this module, we invited three professors from various universities in Hong Kong to share with us their views on China's foreign policy and China's rise. Let's learn from these experts.
  • Final Exam and Course Evaluation
    • 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.

Taught by

David ZWEIG

Reviews

4.9 rating, based on 15 Class Central reviews

4.7 rating at Coursera based on 126 ratings

Start your review of Chinese Politics Part 2 – China and the World

  • Anonymous
    It is a really good course. I recommend it to averyone who want to develop a wide vision about contemporary politic as far as asia and china are concerned. The course links perfectly China's issues with the ones of the rest of the world. Strongly recommended for the ones who want to improve their skills for their work of teaching or simply for curiosity.
  • Anonymous
    One of the BEST COURSE I have ever had. I think, if every single course be like that one, especially in University, every single student will have an irresistible desire and zeal for study. Thank you Professor! Thanks to everyone who helped with the creation of the course!
  • Anonymous
    I am very happy to have attended this course.
    It is recommended.
    Before you as a foreigner want to write anything about China, you should have attended this course.
    After this course I feel able to delve deeply into the politics of China.
  • Anonymous
    Good content. Clear explanations. Not boring. Evaluation consists on quizzes plus a written assignment in week 5. The questions on the quizzes are sometimes too detailed, but you can retake them. That’s cool. The writing assignment is good too, but then you need to evaluate Five other participants’ essays. That’s problematic, because not many people are having this course. So do the assignment early, start the evaluations with plenty of time before the course is due and don’t review more works than the minimum required, because other students need to have stuff to review, too. But overall, very good.
  • Profile image for Wayne Li
    Wayne Li
    This course has been very well designed and organized with valuable contents related to the subject. I've leant what I expected.
    Meanwhile, the only 3 suggestions I have are: 1) More involvement of the course professor or mentor to organize and propel the discussion in the modules or forums; 2) Better design for the weekly quizzes -- Weekly quizzes are relatively pretty carefully designed compared to the MOOCs I previously taken, but still some minor mistakes to recorrect; 3) I'm looking forward to more suggested readings/materials related to the subject.
  • Anonymous
    Excellent course by a thoughtful and learned professor, who was actually in China for years, speaks the language and gives good balance. Solid use of research and an interesting panel at the end. Builds on Part 1, which is really essential here. This course gives a good understanding of what may be the most important country in the world in the next decade. University level in content and testing.
    Only drawback is the course is a bit dated, 2016 is last update. Things have changed considerably since then, so a part 3 or major revamp is helpful
  • Anonymous
    Good course to understand the interaction between China and the world. Although already a few years old the content is still very valid. Especially the discussions at the end were great to follow. Also the case studies connecting theory with practive. Only downside was that just a few other students followed the course so student interaction or peer review was minimal.
  • Profile image for Lusha Wang
    Lusha Wang
    This is like the best course I've seen so far about China's foreign policy! I highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in modern Chinese politics and foreign affairs. The topics are versatile and really interesting, explained using contemporary theoretical approaches. Professor Zweig is the best! You should also check out Part 1 of this course!
  • Anonymous
    The course content is very satisfying, which covers all the relevant information/incidents over aperiod from 1978 to 2016, be it political, economic or military. The instructor is very good with seemingly in depth knowledge of the subject. thanks to coursera for the fantastic opportunity. Warm regards for the team coursera
  • Anonymous
    The modules in the Chinese Politics Part 2 - China and the World course are very good and coherently built. I enjoy a wise and balanced approach from Professor David Zweig from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Thank you COURSERA for offering quality online courses (May 15, 2020).
  • Henry Harlow
    The course instructor is super. The information is comprehensive. The videos are well produced with plenty of information. I also did Part 1 which was excellent as well. I do understand China much better which was my goal.
  • Anonymous
    Professor Zweig is excellent, providing interesting, insightful and motivating lectures. It was as if I were back in the classroom. I highly recommend taking this class if you any interest in China whatsoever.
  • Anonymous
    This is an excellent course for everyone who wants to have some understanding of china politics. You could see China's development from a backward socialist nation to the country that is now challenging the US.
  • Anonymous
    A wonderful way to explore the issues behind today's headlines concerning US and Chinese relations as well as a global view of China's rise.
  • Anonymous
    A deep but very easy going series of lectures given by one of the best connoisseurs of China ever. Highly recomended.

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