The Mao era was a period of momentous changes in Chinese society. This module explores the history of the first forty years of the People's Republic of China from the Communist Liberation in 1949 to the aftermath of June 4th 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. It begins with the date when the Communist Party of China established state power under the leadership of Mao Zedong, and ends with Deng Xiaoping's 'southern tour' in 1992, which signalled the full-scale rejection of Mao's economic strategy by embracing the global market. It places this history within the context of China's international relations, to examine the international influences and ideological premises moulding the government's changing political and economic strategies.
Students will examine some of the key themes and debates in modern Chinese culture and society as represented by Chinese and Western historians, as well as in contemporary accounts of China, and through these they will establish a critical understanding about the major political, economic and social changes between Mao's China and 1992. From a methodological perspective, students will work with a wide range of primary and secondary sources in order to develop specific skills of documentary analysis and historical interpretation. Readings will be complemented with the use of visual image, including film and political posters. All readings for this course are in English. The selected essential readings will be from the texts outlined. Specific readings will be assigned for each week but students will be able to develop their further interests through their classroom use of these more extensive primary and secondary sources.
Students will examine some of the key themes and debates in modern Chinese culture and society as represented by Chinese and Western historians, as well as in contemporary accounts of China, and through these they will establish a critical understanding about the major political, economic and social changes between Mao's China and 1992. From a methodological perspective, students will work with a wide range of primary and secondary sources in order to develop specific skills of documentary analysis and historical interpretation. Readings will be complemented with the use of visual image, including film and political posters. All readings for this course are in English. The selected essential readings will be from the texts outlined. Specific readings will be assigned for each week but students will be able to develop their further interests through their classroom use of these more extensive primary and secondary sources.