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Course title |
Technological Development, Politics and Society of China |
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Semester |
111-1 |
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Designated for |
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL DEVELOP |
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Instructor |
Chiu-Wan Liu |
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Curriculum Number |
NtlDev5317 |
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Curriculum Identity Number |
341EU9310 |
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Class |
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Credits |
2.0 |
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Full/Half
Yr. |
Half |
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Required/
Elective |
Required |
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Time |
Tuesday 6,7(13:20~15:10) |
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Remarks |
Restriction: juniors and beyond
The upper limit of the number of students: 15.
The upper limit of the number of non-majors: 5. |
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Course introduction video |
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Table of Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning |
Table of Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning |
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Course Syllabus
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Please respect the intellectual property rights of others and do not copy any of the course information without permission
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Course Description |
The course has one hour of online lecture and one hour of online class discussion. Different forms of class discussion will be held, including paired discussion, small group discussions, large group discussion, and short debates. This course aims to teach students how to critically examine China’s technological developments and political as well as social impacts thereof along three dimensions.
I. Chinese government, politics and economics since 1949: elucidates different political contexts of technological policies under different CCP leadership in a chronological order
II. Technology and politics of China: explicates complex political implications of technological developments of China, including how China has transitioned from an industrial economy to an ICT-based economy, the rise of Internet giants Alibaba and Tencent, the relationship between the Internet giants and CCP, as well as how the rise of Chinese fintech influences the authoritarian rule
III. Technology and society of China: helps students critically understand how industrial technologies, Internet and communication technologies, and fintech, have impacted on social norms, social institutions, social class and gender relations of China.
Video of course intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHVYgDjFDb4&ab_channel=LiuSarah
(note: the video was shot last year and the course convenor has changed the course requirement this year, but the course structure and themes remain intact) |
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Course Objective |
This course aims to familiarise students with factual knowledge of developments of technology of China from the Mao era onwards, as well as various scholarly insights into such developments. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse China’s technological developments and policies based on their increased understanding of different political contexts under different CCP leadership, and how the technological developments have impacted on social norms, social institutions and social class of China.
Students will be motivated to deeply engage their learned factual knowledge with different strands of literature by attending lectures, participating in tailored class activities, fulfilling writing requirements, as well as preparing and attending an open book exam. Along with writing requirements, the exam is designed to help students hone the skills of organising ideas and thoughts into structured writings within a limited amount of time. |
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Course Requirement |
Attendance, mid-term examination, writing requirements |
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Student Workload (expected study time outside of class per week) |
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Office Hours |
Appointment required. Note: Appointment only |
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Designated reading |
Please see the electronic document of the syllabus (the attached of the first week in ceiba) |
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References |
Please see the electronic document of the syllabus (the attached of the first week in ceiba) |
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Grading |
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No. |
Item |
% |
Explanations for the conditions |
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1. |
Mid-Term Examination |
40% |
• Local students will not lose marks if there are some (acceptable) grammatical mistakes in their answers.
• Students will be given more instructions at the class regarding how to prepare the exam. |
2. |
Submit FIVE weeks of reaction papers which include summaries and critical reflections on the required readings |
40% |
• Word count: 800 (300-400 summaries; 400-500 reflections of the readings). The paper with more than 1,000 words or less than 600 words will lose marks.
• Must use formal references. Paraphrased sentences drawing from the readings and direct quotations must have in-text references with page numbers
• Late submissions are not accepted.
• Submit printed reaction papers at class |
3. |
Active participation in class discussion |
20% |
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Week |
Date |
Topic |
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Week 1 |
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Introduction to the Course
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Week 2 |
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Examining the Maoist Style of Modernisation: Why did Great Leap Forward Movement Fail? |
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Week 3 |
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The Reform and Opening in the Deng Era: Featured in Decentralisation and Export-oriented Economy |
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Week 4 |
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Connecting with the Global Economy: China’s Accession to WTO in 2001 |
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Week 5 |
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Social Welfare Reforms and Public Participation during the Hu-Wen Era: When Chinese Tech Firms Emerge |
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Week 6 |
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Recentralisation of Power under Xi: is China a digital autocrat? |
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Week 7 |
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Wired Authoritarian China: The Development of the Internet Infrastructure and Information Technology |
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Week 8 |
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The Relationship between the Chinese Internet Giants and the Party-State |
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Week 9 |
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The Rise of Chinese Fintech and its Influence on the Authoritarian Regime |
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Week 10 |
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Chinese Tech Firms' Investments Overseas |
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Week 11 |
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Mid-Term Examination (Open Book Exam) |
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Week 12 |
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E-commerce Economy and Rural Development |
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Week 13 |
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Social Mobility and Digital Technology |
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Week 14 |
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Gender and Technology: Technological Development and Gender Empowerment or Disempowerment |
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Week 15 |
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Technological Modernisation and Environmental Degradation: Environmental Politics in the Authoritarian Regime |
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Week 16 |
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No exam |