HST 281 The Cultural Revolution, Tiananmen Movement, and Economic Growth in Contemporary China

3 Credit(s) CS WC

This course provides an overview of contemporary China. It examines the political changes, economic progresses, and cultural transformations in recent and current China. Focusing on three most important events as case studies, the course tries to lead the students into a strongly evidence-based understanding of the origins, developments, and consequences of these important moments in contemporary China. The Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976 illustrated how ideological fanaticism could produce chaotic impacts upon human behaviors in the Chinese attempt to create a new culture. The Tiananmen Movement of 1989 demonstrated Chinese students and citizens’ call for changing China’s social/political institution towards democracy. The open door and economic growth in the 1990’s and into the 21st century have dramatically improved the Chinese living standard that help formulate a new world view for the Chinese to stress the rising significance of China on the world stage. This course also requires students to compare contemporary China with their own societies and cultures in order to foster a comparative global perspective. Three lecture hours per week.