Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Open to students on UG Global Legal Studies LLB

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

1) To build knowledge of contemporary social challenges in China;
2) To understand contemporary social challenges in China in their historical context;
3) To reflect on the potential impacts of both domestic policies and global currents on the future evolution of Chinese society.

Outline Of Syllabus

Module Talk (Introduction)

Topic 1. The Individual and the State: The 'Lying Flat' Phenomenon.
Topic 2. The Individual, the Corporation and the State: The 'Social Credit' System.
Topic 3. The Demographic Crisis: Prospects for the Future.
Topic 4. The Environment: Civic Activism and State Constraints.
Topic 5. Internal Migration: Impacts on Children.
Topic 6. Ethnicity: Han-majoritarian Assimilationism in the New Era.
Topic 7. Social Inequality: State Rhetoric on Poverty Alleviation.

Essay planning workshop

Topic 8. Rule of Law vs. Rule by Law
Topic 9. The Chinese Internet: Control vs. Empowerment.
Topic 10. Human Trafficking.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1) An awareness of the concepts and norms of traditional social structure in imperial China
2) An understanding of a range of social problems in contemporary China
3) An ability to situate those social problems against a backdrop of dramatic historial transformations occuring during the Republican, Maoist, and Reform eras
4) An awareness of the potential impacts of domestic policies and global currents on the future evolution of Chinese society

Intended Skill Outcomes

1) The ability to employ traditional concepts and norms to interpret social structure in imperial China
2) The ability to analyse a range of social problems in contemporary China
3) The ability to situate those social problems against the backdrop of recent dramatic historical transformations
4) The ability to predict how domestic policies and global currents may impact on the future evolution of Chinese society

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Pre-reading, in the form of short, online blog pieces written by China scholars and experts, stimulate students’ initial interest in each lecture topic.

Lectures (accompanied by Powerpoint presentations) then guide students in developing a critical awareness of social challenges in contemporary China; in situating those contemporary social challenges against their historical backdrop; and in considering the potential impact of domestic policies and global currents in the future evolution of Chinese society.

Students listen to podcasts and/or watch videos ahead of the two weekly seminar sessions.

Small-group, in-person seminars, held on campus, are then provided to encourage students to further explore the lecture themes through discussion of podcasts and audiovisual media (images and videos) relating to the 11 lecture topics. Research and reading can be conducted independently or in small groups with student peers, in order to foster both individual initiative and teamwork.

An in-person Essay planning workshop is designed to counsel students on how to research material, analyse sources critically, and plan, structure and present their arguments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The module will be assessed by:

One formative assessment:
- a Critical Commentary of 1200 words on a single text chosen from three options. The student will analyse and discuss core themes relating to the lecture topic – or combination of lecture topics – covered in that text. This exercise encourages independent critical thinking and processing of different types of document, including those from government, NGO, media and academic sources.

One summative assessment:
- an Essay of 2500-2800 words (70%), demonstrating knowledge of taught aspects of Chinese society as well as the ability to critically analyse social themes. There will be a choice of essay questions covering the 11 lecture themes.

General Notes

N/A