China in the International Order

This paper provides an application of international relations and international political economy theories to the case study of China's decline, isolation, and rise in global politics and market over the past century and a half. Reassessing power transition, economic integration, and institution-building theories developed in the Western historical context, the paper prepares students to take a critical view on one of the most systemic shift of our time - the rise of China as the world's largest economy with great power aspirations. Combining historical and theoretical perspectives, this course will examine major events and issues that have created pressures and opportunities for China's foreign relations, market expansion, corporate internationalization, military modernization, financial and public health crisis management, and influence in international organizations.

Selected readings:

• Andrew Nathan and Andrew S Cobell, China’s search for Security (New York: Colombia University Press, 2012)
• Thomas Christensen, The China Challenge (New York: W.W. Norton, 2015)
• Aaron Friedberg, A Contest for Supremacy: China, America and the struggle for Mastery in Asia (New York; London: W.W Norton, 2011)