GY480      Half Unit
Remaking China: Geographical aspects of Development and Disparity

This information is for the 2016/17 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Hyun Shin STC. S601f

Availability

This course is available on the MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MSc in China in Comparative Perspective, MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Environment and Development, MSc in Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research), MSc in Local Economic Development, MSc in Real Estate Economics and Finance, MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies, MSc in Social Policy and Development, MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in Urbanisation and Development. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

N/A

Course content

The recent decades have seen China emerging as one of the most important global economic and political players. The course aims to offer opportunities to gain comprehensive and yet critical insights into China’s development in urban, regional and global dimensions by reflecting upon the significance of China’s role in the world economy as well as the challenges emerging within China. Tentative topics are as follows:

 

China's rise in the global capitalism; Uneven development and regional disparities; Governing China and the role of the state; Speculative urbanisation; Mega-city regions; Gender and China; Factory of the World and work inequalities; Migration, hukou and local citizenship; Public participation and rights activism.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 9 hours of seminars in the LT.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the LT.

Indicative reading

Campanella, T.J. (2008) The concrete revolution: China’s urban revolution and what it means for the world. Princeton Architectural Press

Hsing, Y-T (2010) The great urban transformation. Oxford University Press

Hsing, Y.T and Lee C. K (eds) (2009) Reclaiming Chinese Society, The New Social Activism.Routledge

Jacques, M. (2009) When China rules the world: The rise of the Middle Kingdom and the end of the Western world. Allen Lane

Lee, C.K. (2007) Against the law: Labor protests in China’s rustbelt and sunbelt. University of California Press

Ngai, P (2005) Made in China: Women Factory Workers in a Global Workplace. Duke Univ. Press

Shao, Q. (2013) Shanghai Gone: Domicide and defiance in a Chinese megacity. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Wu, W. and Gaubatz, P. (2012) The Chinese city. Routledge

Zhang, L and Ong, A ( 2008) (eds) Privatizing China. Cornell University Press

Wu, F. (2015) Planning for Growth: Urban and Regional Planning in China. Routledge

Assessment

Essay (100%, 4000 words) in the ST.

Student performance results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 16.5
Merit 52.1
Pass 28.9
Fail 2.5

Teachers' comment

Please note that this course was first introduced in the 2012/13 academic year.

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2015/16: 30

Average class size 2015/16: 15

Controlled access 2015/16: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 88%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.6

Materials (Q2.3)

1.4

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.6

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.7

Integration (Q2.6)

1.7

Contact (Q2.7)

1.5

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.5

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

82%

Maybe

17%

No

1%