HIS 260 (6091) (3 crs) China in Revolution
Instructor Steven A. Leibo Ph.D.
e-mail leibo@albany.edu or leibos@sage.edu (note Sage address includes the first letter of my first name)
Tue, Thu 8:45 – 10:05
ES 245 FALL 2007
G.E. Regions Beyond Europe
EARTH SCIENCES 0245
Cross-listed with EAS 260 (5963)
Office hours Wednesdays 4-4:45 & Dr. Leibo will also arrive well before each class for additional questions.
 
For the past 150 years, China has experienced great turmoil as it struggled to meet domestic and international challenges. This class will focus on the revolutionary efforts and strategies that emerged in 20th century China to face these challenges. Starting with the 1911 Revolution, students will learn the shortcomings of political revolution alone and explore the Chinese desire for a cultural revolution. Next, students will examine the CCP and its efforts to combine both political and social revolutions in a drive that culminated in the 1949 Revolution. From there, we will study Mao Zedong’s efforts to transform China both socially and industrially. 
 
The last part of the semester will focus on the commercial revolution of the era since 1978 and will include discussion of the dramatic political, social,   economic and environmental changes currently taking place. By the end of the semester, students will be knowledgeable about concepts of reform and revolution in China, the interplay between culture and politics, and the multi-faceted transformation that is transforming contemporary China into the world’s newest superpower. 

Required

Paul John Bailey China in the Twentieth Century
Jung Chang Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China

Spence, J. Mao Zedong A Life

Leibo, S. East & South East Asia 2007

GRADING

MAM EXAM 50

MIDTERM 100 POINTS

PAPER 100 POINTS

FINAL 100 POINTS

350

There is also a possibility of fourteen extra credit points. In general these will come from weekly news quizzes, evaluation of podcasts and taking part in the university’s China semester programs. Details in class.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Aug. 28 Introduction & Themes of Chinese Civilization

Readings, Leibo. vii to p. 13

Bailey, Introduction

Aug. 30 Turn of the Century China 1890-1910

Readings, Leibo, p. 14 to 21

Bailey, chapter 1

Sept. 4 From Revolution to the First Chinese Republic

Readings, Bailey, chapter 2

Map Due

Sept. 6 The May Fourth Movement

Readings, Bailey chapter 3

Sept. 11 The First United Front & the Northern Expedition

Readings, Start Wild Swans

Sept. 18 Failure of the United Front & the Jianxi Soviet

MAP EXAM

Sept. 20 The Long March to Yanan

Readings, Bailey chapter 4

Sept 25 The Japanese invasion of Manchuria & toward the Second World War in the Pacific

Sept. 27 World War II 1937 to 1945

Oct 2 The Chinese Civil War

Oct 4 MIDTERM REVIEW & Film

Oct. 9 MIDTERM

Oct. 11 Emergence of the People’s Republic of China

Readings, Bailey chapter 5

Oct. 16 The People’s Republic Year of China 1949 to 1958

Oct. 18 The Great Leap Forward

Readings, Bailey chapter 6

Oct. 23 Sino-Soviet Split

Oct. 25 The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

Readings, Bailey chapter 7

Oct. 30 Sino American Rapprochement 1972

Nov 1 Taiwan Since 1949

Finish Wild Swans

Nov. 6 The Death of Mao Zedong

Readings, Bailey chapter 7

Nov. 8 The Emergence of Deng Xiaoping’s China

Readings, Bailey Conclusion

Nov. 13 Contemporary China And Economic Globalization

Readings, Leibo p. 30 to 45

Nov. 15 China’s Environmental Challenge: Domestic & International

Readings, Leibo p. 46 to 63

Nov. 20 U.S. China Relations Geo-Political to Economic

Wild Swans Paper due.. Absolute Date—NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT FULL CREDIT

Nov. 27 China & Its Asian Neighbors

Nov. 29 Human & Religious Rights in Contemporary China

Dec. 4 Tibet & China

Dec. 6 Review Session for Cumulative Final

DEPARTMENTAL POLICY ON PLAGIARISM

The following is the History Department’s policy on plagiarism:

“Plagiarism is taking (which includes purchasing) the

words and ideas of another and passing them off as one’s

own work. If in a formal paper a student quotes someone,

that student must use quotation marks and give a citation.

Paraphrased or borrowed ideas are to be identified by proper

citations. Plagiarism will result, at the minimum, in a failing

grade for the assignment.”