131-062 Making China Modern

Formerly available as 131-275/375. Students who have completed 131-275 or 131-375 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first-year history or Asian studies, see Prerequisites.

This subject explores the history of 20th century China through a study of the issues of modernity and modernisation, which lay close to the heart of various nation-building projects embarked on in the course of the century. Changes in political organisation, material culture and understandings of self and community are traced from the end of the Chinese empire through the sequence of 20th century revolutions to China's entry into the WTO in the era of globalisation. At the end of the subject students should have an understanding of recent Chinese history in light of theories of modernity.

Class participation, and written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.

• Jonathan Spence, The Search for Modern China. 2nd edn, Norton, 2000.