POLS318 Chinese Foreign Policy

Overview

Critical analysis of the foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China since its foundation in 1949.

Whether the issue is human rights, the environment, economic or military power, China’s foreign policy  is increasingly important to the discussion. What drives China’s foreign policy? Is it ideology? Or is it material power? Why has the US-China relationship deteriorated in recent years? What should New Zealand’s policy be toward China? We explore these and other interesting questions in this paper.

About this paper

Prerequisite

18 200-level POLS points

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Eligibility

An interest in national and international affairs is an advantage.

Contact

politics@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo

Paper Structure

This paper is divided into three sections. In the first section, students will be introduced to the alternative theoretical perspectives that are used to analyse China's international behaviour. The second section will focus on China's foreign policy during the Cold War (from 1946-1991). Attention will be paid to China's relations with the Soviet Union, the United States, and states in Asia. For section three, which deals with the post-Cold War era (1991-present), we will focus on the evolution of Sino-U.S. relations and China's relations with states on its periphery: specifically, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. We also explore the increasing salience of internal challenges for China’s foreign policy, reflected in the issues surrounding and Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. 

Textbooks

There are no textbooks for this paper. Readings will be available in electronic format in eReserve.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:

• An understanding of the major events and turning points in Chinese foreign policy since 1949
• An appreciation for the alternative academic interpretations of China as an actor in the international system since 1949

Overview

Critical analysis of the foreign policy of the People’s Republic of China since its foundation in 1949.

Whether the issue is human rights, the environment, economic or military power, China’s foreign policy  is increasingly important to the discussion. What drives China’s foreign policy? Is it ideology? Or is it material power? Why has the US-China relationship deteriorated in recent years? What should New Zealand’s policy be toward China? We explore these and other interesting questions in this paper.

About this paper

Prerequisite

18 200-level POLS points

Schedule C

Arts and Music

Eligibility

An interest in national and international affairs is an advantage.

Contact

politics@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo

Paper Structure

This paper is divided into three sections. In the first section, students will be introduced to the alternative theoretical perspectives that are used to analyse China's international behaviour. The second section will focus on China's foreign policy during the Cold War (from 1946-1991). Attention will be paid to China's relations with the Soviet Union, the United States, and states in Asia. For section three, which deals with the post-Cold War era (1991-present), we will focus on the evolution of Sino-US relations and China's relations with states on its periphery: specifically, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. We also explore the increasing salience of internal challenges for China’s foreign policy, reflected in the issues surrounding and Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. 

Textbooks

There are no textbooks for this paper. Readings will be available in electronic format in eReserve.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:

• An understanding of the major events and turning points in Chinese foreign policy since 1949.
• An appreciation for the alternative academic interpretations of China as an actor in the international system since 1949.