79-769 Modern China: From the Birth of Mao ... to Now
12 units, Carnegie Mellon University
This course is an introduction to major themes in twentiethcentury Chinese history, including the transition from empire to nation, revolution, social change and modernization, western and Japanese imperialism, the rise of the partystate, Chinese socialism, economic liberalization and the socalled Chinese Dream. The first half of the class is devoted to the period between the fall of the imperial system and the founding of the Peoples Republic of China 19111949. If the victory of the Chinese Communist Party and development of the socialist state are to be considered in historical context, it is necessary to first understand the political, cultural, economic and intellectual currents that immediately preceded them. During the second half of the course, we will examine the Maoist period 19491976. We will investigate the Chinese Communist Party as both a statebuilding institution and an engine of social transformation, and consider the tensions these dual roles produced. Finally, we will look at the Reform Period 1978present, and reflect on a newly robust Chinas attempts to come to terms with its own recent past and what the consequences might be for both China and the world.
Prerequisites: none listed
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