Online Course
Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via Coursera
Found in
Political Science Courses
- Provider Coursera
- Cost Free Online Course (Audit)
- Session Upcoming
- Language English
- Certificate Paid Certificate Available
- Effort 3-4 hours a week
- Duration 7 weeks long
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Overview
Class Central Tips
This course offers a conceptual framework for understanding China that highlights the intersection of politics and economics. It shows that rather than develop into a full blown market economy, state and party officials at all levels of the political system maintain significant influence in economic development. Such a “political” economy has had both positive and negative outcomes, which we will assess in detail. We also look at the origins, views, backgrounds and relations among leaders, and how those leaders make decisions about public policy and try to get those decisions implemented down through the system. China has few formal institutions through which citizens can participate in politics, but we will study the strategies Chinese people use to try to influence their leaders’ decisions. Finally, we assess China’s future and whether rapid economic development and the emergence of a vibrant middle class will push China towards greater democracy or whether the single party system is likely to survive into the future. The course is a quite useful background for Chinese Politics Part 2 – China and the World.
Course Overview video: https://youtu.be/7FpNL67EbE4
Course Overview video: https://youtu.be/7FpNL67EbE4
Syllabus
Orientation and Module 1: Models of the Chinese Political System and the Structure of the Chinese Party/State
-Before you start with the content for Module 1, please watch the Course Overview, review the Assignments and Grading page, and introduce yourself to other learners who will be studying this course with you.
Module 2: Elite Politics in China
Module 3: Policy Process in China
Module 4: Understanding Societal Engagement in Politics in China
Module 5: China’s Domestic and International Political Economy
Module 6: China’s Future: Democratization or “Flexible Authoritarianism”
Final Exam and Course Evaluation
-Now is time to test your understanding on the entire course. Take the final exam and complete the post-course survey. Your valuable feedback will certainly help us improve future iterations of the course.
-Before you start with the content for Module 1, please watch the Course Overview, review the Assignments and Grading page, and introduce yourself to other learners who will be studying this course with you.
Module 2: Elite Politics in China
Module 3: Policy Process in China
Module 4: Understanding Societal Engagement in Politics in China
Module 5: China’s Domestic and International Political Economy
Module 6: China’s Future: Democratization or “Flexible Authoritarianism”
Final Exam and Course Evaluation
-Now is time to test your understanding on the entire course. Take the final exam and complete the post-course survey. Your valuable feedback will certainly help us improve future iterations of the course.
Taught by
David ZWEIG
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Reviews for Coursera's Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science Based on 18 reviews
- 5 stars 78%
- 4 stars 17%
- 3 star 0%
- 2 star 6%
- 1 star 0%
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Write a review- 1
Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
The lectures are interesting and informative. However, the graded assignments and learning assessments are terrible. It is akin to the typical reasons that people grow to hate history. Rather than testing for knowledge of important concepts, the quizzes focus on pedantic facts and figures (even going so far as to ask for exact percentages in some circumstances).
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
I like this course content. The instructor and provider are excellent. I hope to take a course in Chinese Politics Part 2 : China and the World. Thank you and good bye.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
I like this course content. The instructor and provider are excellent. I hope to take a course in Chinese Politics Part 2 : China and the World. Thank you and good bye.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
I like this course content. The instructor and provider are excellent. I hope to take a course in Chinese Politics Part 2 : China and the World. Thank you and good bye.
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Andrew
completed this course, spending 4 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be hard.
I wanted to learn about China and chose this course out of personal interest. I have really enjoyed it and found it very interesting. The delivery method has been great for me because the lectures were broken up into chunks of between 5 and 15 minutes and I sometimes can only get that much time being a stay at home dad a couple of days a week. Also, I've been considering going back to university and doing this course has helped me get a sense of what that might look like for me and also helped me build my confidence in being able to study something.
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Lusha
completed this course.
I've taken this course as I'm doing my research in Chinese foreign policy and I needed more insight on Chinese domestic and international politics. Prof. Zweig's lectures were interested, backed with surveys, facts, theoretical frameworks and his own experience as a researcher and a former student in China. I really enjoyed the course and I'm going to take Part 2 now!
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Anonymous
Anonymous
is taking this course right now.
In Mainland China, there is mandatory political courses called 思修 (Morality)、史纲(History)、马哲(Marxism)、毛概(Maoism and others), which span for two years. This course is clearly an alternative to the last one, a political science course based not on communism doctrine. Very interesting.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
One of the best lecturers I have encountered on Coursera. Great incite to the subject. Good slides with access.
Course material flowed nicely and was easy to understand. With current conditions between the U.S. and China, this course is timely and beneficial. Looking forward to the second class.
Course material flowed nicely and was easy to understand. With current conditions between the U.S. and China, this course is timely and beneficial. Looking forward to the second class.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
This is a good introduction to Chinese politics up to 2015. It does seem a tad dated.
The exams are difficult, requiring synthesis of the material not just rote learning.
The readings were problematic with many links broken, and the situation was in the process of being resolved.
The exams are difficult, requiring synthesis of the material not just rote learning.
The readings were problematic with many links broken, and the situation was in the process of being resolved.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
Excellent! I am really grateful to find this course. Actually, even though I am Chinese, I still get much helpful information from this class which not only improve my English skill but also let me understand the operation of Chinese politics better.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
Helpful course to start building knowledge about the Chinese political system. Solid baseline in the end to understand better and create your own opinion on what is going on in China and how the rest of the world could or should interact with China.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
Interesting and helpful introduction to China. Good video presentations, with an experienced instructor. Allows the possibility of peer interaction and no real pressure but good to have timelines, quizzes and essay presentations to do.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
Thoroughly enjoyed this class. I had very little knowledge about Chinese politics, but I was quickly able to grasp the material . The lectures are very clear, offer in-depth analyses of various topics, and Professor Zweig is never boring.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
Great course, the instructor has the first-hand experience in china politics. So we can see china politic in a different view the lecture is excellent with a lot of useful information. It is my honor to learn from you, professor.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
FANTASTIC AND JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CONTENT. THE INSTRUCTOR IS VERY KNOWLEDGABLE AND LUCID IN HIS EXPLANATION AND LANGUAGE. COURSERA AS A PLATFORM IS VERY GOOD AND SIMPLE. ALL D BEST TO THE TEAM COURSERA.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
Excellent course with well made videos, comprehensive speech and well designed assignments. Recommended to anyone who wishes to learn more about China politics.
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Salil
completed this course, spending 6 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be hard.
Very well articulated and sequenced course. Quiz and assignment section is very informative and good for expanding knowledge about Chinese society.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
completed this course.
Very informative and structured look at China's political history up to 2014. Very much enjoyed the course content and learned a lot.
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