| Course Name | Year | Term | Period | Faculty / Graduate School | All Instructors | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13325:[2025 Fall]IR18‐GE305 Contemporary China (R) § 13326:RUIR-3622 Contemporary China(R) § 13327:IR-FS305 Contemporary China (R) | 2025 | Fall | Mon4 | College Of International Relations | JI CHENJIA | 2 |
Campus
Class Venue
Language
Course Outline and Method
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by September 20. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.
This course is a brief introduction to the contemporary Chinese political and social thought. Since the reform and opening-up starting from late 1970s, China has grown into the world's leading economics and a major actor in global and regional affairs. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the thoughts and mentalities of Chinese people during this period of time. The social transformation of Chinese society cannot be comprehended without understanding the perception and thought of those who brought out these changes. Based on this understanding, the course will review the major social and political thought and cultural movements in contemporary China that had significant influence on the social transformation, as well as people's everyday life.
Student Attainment Objectives
(1) Be familiar with the major social and political thought trends and cultural events in China since 1980s until nowadays,
(2) Understand how these thoughts formed and evolved through the interaction with the structural transformation during the period,
(3) While investigating some of the social and cultural phenomenon during the period, be able to interpret the actors’ attitude base on the knowledge learned in the course.
Recommended Preparatory Course
Course Schedule
| Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) | Theme |
|---|---|
| Keyword, References and Supplementary Information | |
| 1 | Introduction (Oct. 6) (Class on Sep. 29 has been cancelled) |
Brief introduction to the history of ideas and mentalities, the significants of them in regional studies and Chinese studies. Guidance to the contents and requirements of the course. |
|
| 2 | Liberalism (Oct. 13, Online) |
Brief introduction to the Chinese liberalism revived during 1980s and its influence until nowadays. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 3 | Neo-authoritarianism (Oct. 20, Online) |
Brief introduction to the neo-authoritarianism trend among the intellectuals in the late 1980s and early 1990s.(This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 4 | Cultural Event: Qigong Fever (Oct. 27, Online) |
Introduction of studies on qigong fever, a major social and cultural phenomenon in China during 1980s. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 5 | Neo-Confucianism (Nov. 3, Online) |
Brief introduction to the development of neo-Confucianism in Sinophone world, especially its rise in mainland China since late 1980s. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 6 | New Left (Nov. 10, Online) |
Brief introduction to the arise and spread of the Chinese new left since mid-1990s, their influence till nowadays. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 7 | New Classicalism (Nov. 17, Online) |
Brief introduction to the reception of new classicalism political theory of Carl Schmitt and Leo Strauss in Chinese academic and its influence. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 8 | Cultural Event: Hanfu Movement and Nationalism (Nov. 24, Online) |
Introduction of the studies on Hanfu Movement starting from the 2000s till nowadays, its connection with the grass-root nationalism.(This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 9 | Industrial Party and Little Pink (Dec. 1, Online) |
Introduction on some of the major thought trends in netizen communities since the late 2000s. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 10 | Chinese Feminism (Dec. 8, Online) |
Basic information about the rise and spread of feminism in contemporary China, its impact and predicament.(This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 11 | Cultural Events: Involution (Nei Juan) and Lying Flat (Tang Ping) (Dec. 15, Online) |
Discuss the recent trend of "laying flatism" in youth culture and its implication against the highly competitive society. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 12 | Group Research Presentation (1) (Dec. 20, Online) |
Group presentation, Q&A, and Discussion. (This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 13 | Group Research Presentation (2) (Dec. 22, Online) |
Group presentation, Q&A, and Discussion.(This week the class will be given online) |
|
| 14 | Group Research Presentation (3) and Wrap-up (Jan.13, Online) |
Group presentation, Q&A, and Discussion. Wrap-up and advice on the research paper. (This week the class will be given online) |
Class Format
Recommendations for Private Study
Students are to give a group presentation and write a final research paper on a topic related to China. Any topic regarding the contemporary Chinese culture or society will be fine. In order to prepare for these tasks, the students may start collecting some information about China from related books or news from now on.
Grade Evaluation Method
| Kind | Percentage | Grading Criteria etc. |
|---|---|---|
| Final Examination (Written) | ||
| Report Examination (A report to be submitted by the unified deadline) |
||
| Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class) |
100 | Contribution to class discussion 40%
|
Grade Evaluation Method （Note）
Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods
Textbooks
Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）
Reference Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN Code | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Thought and China's Transformation: Ideas Shaping Reform in Post-Mao China | He Li | Palgrave Macmillan | 1349491233 | |
| Contemporary Chinese Political Thought: Debates and Perspectives | Fred Dallmayr; Zhao Tingyang | University Press of Kentucky | 938190460X |
Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）
Web Pages for Reference
How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)
Other Comments
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/