Today’s China is widely perceived as an economic powerhouse and a crucial player in Asia and the international arena. However, China’s path to both economic and political prominence has been long and tortuous. The history of modern China provides an exciting and challenging platform for discussing key themes in modern history such as empire and imperialism, nationalism, revolution and state building. This module will discuss the pivotal events in Chinese modern history by laying emphasis on China’s quest for modernity, the interaction/confrontation with the outside world and the centrality of ideology. The module will explore topics such as the transition from imperial to Republican China, the impact of western imperialism on Chinese state and society, the ideological roots and the implementation of the Communist revolution, the impact and consequences of the War against Japan, and the Civil War.

On completion of the module a student will be able to:

·      explore critically key themes and issues pertaining to the history of modern China from 1840 to the 1949

·      gain an appreciation of the historiographical perspectives which have informed the interpretation and discussion of topics such as empire, imperialism, nationalism, revolution and state building, and to make informed critical judgements upon past and current interpretations

·      integrate an understanding of pertinent historical and historiographical ideas in the history of modern China into world history.

·      express their ideas and assessments on themes and topics in modern Chinese history.

·      examine examples of primary source material illustrating the themes outlined above. 

·      demonstrate a broad and systematic knowledge of modern Chinese history and an understanding of pertinent historical and historiographical frameworks.

·      demonstrate an understanding of the main concepts and institutions in each of the periods examined (late Qing Empire, the Republic of China).

·      demonstrate an understanding of a range of perspectives within the appropriate secondary literature.

·      analyse key themes and issues in the light of those contexts.

A programme of lectures which will introduce students to the main factual and conceptual issues to be discussed and analysed during the module.  Seminars related to lectures, in which key issues and topics are analysed and discussed further.

Academic:

• identify the nature and scope of the issues raised about modern Chinese history.
• summarise and appraise the relative merits and demerits of alternative views and interpretations about the collapse of the empire, the Nationalist regime, Communist revolution, and evaluate their significance.
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses, and problems of alternative historiographical interpretations of the topics presented.
• identify problems, assess evidence, and reach conclusions about issues raised through the module.
• formulate and justify their own arguments and conclusions.
• present accurately, succinctly and lucidly, and in written or oral form their arguments in accordance with appropriate scholarly conventions their opinions on matters relating to modern Chinese history.

Subject-specific:

• express their ideas and assessments on topics on modern Chinese history
• discuss in an informed manner modern topics on Chinese history in a comparative perspective.
• evaluate a range of arguments of alternative historical/historiographical interpretations.
• demonstrate an understanding of some of the primary sources and an appreciation of how historians have approached them.

 Generic:

• Communicate ideas and arguments effectively, whether in speech or in writing in an accurate, succinct and lucid manner.
• Formulate and justify their own arguments and conclusions about a range of issues.
• Demonstrate an ability to modify as well as to defend their own positions.
• Possess a range of information technology resources to assist with information retrieval.
• Organise their own study methods and workload.
• Work is part of the team in seminar and tutorial discussions.

Summative assessment takes the form of one 3,000 - 4,000 word essay (excluding empirical appendices and references).

Topics to be covered include:

1.    State and society in late Imperial China

2.    China under threat: the Opium Wars

3.    The foreign presence in China: life in the treaty-ports

4.    Saving China from collapse: the Qing’s reform attempts

5.    The debate on self-strengthening

6.     The 1912 Republic

7.    Warlordism and the Northern Expedition

8.    The New Culture Movement

9.    Nanjing 1927: the rule of the Nationalist Party

10.  The Chinese Communist Party: from urban to rural revolution

11.  Urban modernity versus rural traditionalism

12.   China’s war with Japan

13.  The Civil War

Please see Background Reading List for an indicative list.

Jonathan Spence, The Search for Modern China, (Norton, New York-London, 1999)

Lucien Bianco, Origins of the Chinese Revolution, (Stanford, 1971)

Jack Gray, Rebellions and Revolutions, (Oxford, 1990)

Cambridge History of China (1800-1979)