This course fulfills COAS distribution for SHSI and for Culture
Studies List A
In some ways China no longer seems revolutionary since it
partakes in consumption in many of the same ways we do ¡V listening to
CDs, using the Web, buying cars, dressing in Diesel jeans.  But China
is remarkable for its complete transformations over the past fifty
years.  In the twentieth century, Chinese revolutionaries talked of
fanshen  by which they meant completely overturning  political,
social and property relationships.  In many ways, the politics of
China of the last fifty years is a story, told again and again of
fanshen ¡V an overturning and a complete transformation of political
power, of sexual and gender relations, of culture, and of economic
organization.
This course will offer the opportunity to examine these
momentous political and social revolutions by looking at four
different instances of revolution in the politics of China.
Specifically, we will look at
„X	the aims and practices of the revolution led by The Chinese
Communist Party
„X	the transformation of women¡¦s roles in family and society
„X	the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and the cultural
revolutions of the 21st century
„X	the transformation, modernization and  globalization of the
Chinese economy.

We will be looking at the reasons these revolutions occurred,
the politics and practices of the revolutions themselves, and the
impact of these revolutions on Chinese politics and society.
We will have two primary aims in the course:  to develop a deeper
understanding of the mechanics and forces of political change, and
to  develop the skills necessary for  understanding contemporary
political conflicts and for contemplating the future dynamics of
Chinese society and politics.
I don¡¦t presume that everyone will enter this class
knowledgeable about Chinese politics in general, so the first few
weeks of the class will be devoted to learning about the evolution of
Chinese political institutions.  We will then turn to an in-depth
political analysis of each of the four revolutions, using both
political and historical analyses as well as some original source
materials (although translated into English) such as memoirs,
personal histories, political documents, and film documentaries.  We
will be reading memoirs written by teenagers who lived through the
Cultural Revolution, short stories about gender and sexuality,
official documents outlining economic transformation, and a variety
of social science analyses.  I expect that there will be 4 books to
purchase, as well as additional readings. Books will be selected by
early November.  You should expect to read about 150 pages a week.
Graduate students enrolled for graduate credit may have additional
assignments.   I will probably give 2 multiple choice/essay exams,
and you will be asked to produce one (perhaps collaborative) project
including a position paper.