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Introduction to Chinese Contemporary History (Online Course/Asianet) (5cr)

Course unit code: C-10089-EAST0118

General information


Credits
5 cr
Teaching language
English
Institution
University of Turku

Objectives

Students will learn the course of contemporary Chinese history (c. 1949 to present), its major events, personages, policies, contradictions and development. As transferable skills, students will learn how to assimilate and understand large amounts of new information through following online lectures and reading research literature, as well as academic English listening, and writing skills.

Content

The course introduces students to Chinese contemporary history from the 1949 revolution to the present. The central theme in the course is to follow the folding and unfolding of the Communist experiment in China and the emergence of a new economic and political superpower by the early 21st century. Questions such as the nature of the communist revolution, Mao Zedong and his legacy, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping and the reform era policies as well as more recent political and social developments until and including the first decade of Xi Jinping are discussed during the course from the historical point of view. The course is essential for those who want to gain deeper understanding of the great social, economic and political transformation of China in contemporary history.

Materials

Paltemaa, Lauri and Juha Vuori (2012): Kiinan kansantasavallan historia OR David Shambaugh (2021): China's Leaders: From Mao to Now

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