GLOBAL CHINA

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the contemporary challenges surronding China’s role in world affairs. From imperial legacies to socialist transformation, from global trade integration to technological competition, China’s rise cannot be understood through simplistic or exceptionalist narratives. Rather than treating China as a unique or isolated case, this course examines China as a global actor embedded in—and reshaping—the international system. The course situates China within broader debates in International Relations (IR), exploring how global forces have shaped China’s political, economic, and social transformations, and how China in turn is contributing to redefining global governance, power relations and global value chains. Particular attention is given to the concept of “Global China”, understood as the outward projection of Chinese economic, political, and technological influence across regions and sectors. Students will engage with different theoretical perspectives and contemporary policy debates to critically assess China’s role in the world.

By the end of the course ‘Global China’, students should: 1) Knowledge and Understanding: Be familiar and be able to describe competing viewpoints and approaches in the analysis of China’s relevance in world affairs; Have an understanding of major theoretical frameworks used to explain political change and economic development about modern and contemporary China; Acquired the “cultural literacy” and the “mind-set” needed to understand from the ‘inside’ the peculiarities of Asian cultures, notably the Sino-centric exceptionalism of China 2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The student will be able to gradually apply the knowledge in relation to the key empirical characteristics of major events and key figures in contemporary China as well as their impacts in world affairs through the practical activities foreseen during the on-campus lectures, such as participation in the working groups, classroom debates, seminars by experts/ guest speakers; the student will also be able to develop analysis and synthesis skills related to dealing with China’s relevance to international politics issues. In addition, students will have further improved soft skills in accord with the objectives of the Luiss Master's programs: they will have improved their knowledge about the emerging challenge of China's rise and developed their awareness of the intricacies of global politics. 3) Autonomy of judgement: The student will be able to critically discuss the most important Chinese ‘actors’; their relevance in relation to the foreign policy decision-making processes within and outside the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The student will also have developed the necessary critical awareness to differentiate the most appropriate sources with regards to debates dealing with contemporary China, namely by distinguishing between academic, policy-oriented and journalistic sources. 4) Communication skills: The student will have gained the ability to communicate the notions learned thanks to the transversal skills (critical analysis skills, synthesis skills, ability to organize team work and team building) acquired during the course.

None. This is an elective course designed to be valuable both to those with no background in the study of China and to those who wish to deepen an existing knowledge of China.

Introduction: What is Global China? China and International Relations Theory Historical Foundations of China’s Global Role Reform and Opening Up China in the World Economy China and Global Governance China’s diplomatic strategy Security and Military modernization China's STI system (Science, Technology & Innovation) The International Relations of East Asia China and the Global South Taiwan and the Semiconductor industry

Readings: 1) Ivan Franceschini and Nicholas Loubere, Global China as a Method, Cambridge University Press, 2022. 2) Lee Jones and Shahar Hameiri, Fractured China. How State Transformation is shaping China's rise, Cambridge University Press, 2021 (selected chapters) 3) Sources available on MyLuiss (readings, and government documents, videos & podcasts) Additional recommended readings: 1) Jilin Xu, Rethinking China's Rise (edited and translated by David Ownby), Cambridge University Press, 2018 2) William Callahan, China: The Pessoptimist Nation, Oxford University Press, 2009.

Lectures on campus; case study discussion; guest lectures by experts/invited speakers

Midterm exam: – 30% of the final grade Final Exam – 70% of the final grade

Strong interest about Chinese domestic politics, China’s economic development, China’s role in Global Affairs.