Module SGIA3381: CHINA IN THE GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA3381: CHINA IN THE GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

Prerequisites

• Any Level 2 SGIA module

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module aims to provide detailed knowledge and advanced discussion of China’s international relations with the global political economy. Emphasis will be placed on the discussion of various international interfaces between China and the global political economy, with a view to examining the challenges and opportunities that face the global political economic system.

Content

• The module will be divided into four blocks.
• The first block will look in empirical and theoretical terms at how China has adapted to the change from a US-constructed global political economy to a multilateral global political economy.
• The second block will study China in relation to the politics of global economic integration.
• The third block will cover China’s responses to two financial crises (the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis) and the new development of the establishment of the international financial centres in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen.
• The last block will assess China’s ‘Go Out’ strategies and their transnational economic performance in aspects such as the sovereign wealth fund, outward FDI and international migration.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students should:
• Show detailed and systematic knowledge of changes in China’s relationship to the global political economy.
• Understand some major driving forces of China’s global economic integration.
• Acquire appropriate knowledge of China’s responses to the international financial crises and the domestic/international debate on various Chinese cities’ scramble for international financial centre status.
• Understand the relationship between China’s ‘Go Out’ strategies and global transnational economic relations.

• By the end of the module, students should be able to:
• Describe, analyse and evaluate China’s roles in the architecture of the global political economy.
• Utilize advanced scholarly resources, statistics and materials to establish sound academic judgement about the process and construction of China’s global economic integration.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of the international financial crises for Chinese economic development.
• Explore and critically assess the tension between Chinese economic strategies and the global political economy, and the options and obstacles China faces.

• Through the module, students should further develop key skills including:
• Participation in discussion and presentation of research
• Engaging critically in debate in topical issues
• Independent learning and thinking
• Writing scholarly essays of substantial length

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching will be conducted through two-hour seminars with student-led presentations, full group discussions and a mini-lecture by the module leader in the last half hour. The mini lecture aims to reinforce some major points of discussion and provide more advanced knowledge on new development as well as to draw attention to the central/most current debate of the week’s topic, and to set preparation for next week’s seminar.
• Student-led presentation and discussion allow the students to generate skills and the articulation of the central focus of the topic with a view to gradually establishing their capacity for independent thinking and evaluation.
• Student presentations will be based on the module materials as well as other sources.
• The formative assessment (1,500 words essay) will be used to construct and formulate logical and appropriate argument with clear academic articulation. Feedback will be given for further improvement.
• The summative assessment (5,000 words essay) will test the capacity for synthesis, analysis and logical evaluation in relation to material drawn from all or most of the module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Each student will be required to submit one 1,500 word essay and make at least one seminar presentation during the year.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University