Course Code

CHES3000

Course Name

Ethnicity and Regional Culture in China

Time

Thursday 2:30pm - 5:15pm

Venue

CYT 215

Instructor

Prof. Pierre Miège

Teaching Assistant

TBD

Course Description

This course examines ethnicity, regional culture and regional policy in contemporary China in global context. It looks at the evolution of regional policy in China since 1949, covering the Third Front, reform and opening up and coastal development, Develop the West, and regional policies in the 2010s such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Greater Bay Area. The course has a particular emphasis on China’s western regions, with discussion of issues relating to ethnic minorities in China, including the regions of Tibet and Xinjiang.

Course Outline

Week 1. Introduction to China’s regions

January 11 2024

Please note that there is no required reading for this week.

 

Week 2. Understanding regional cultures

January 18 2024

 

Week 3. Regional policy after 1949

January 25 2024

 

Week 4. The Third Front and regional and ethnic policy under Mao

February 1 2024

 

Week 5. Regional policy and ethnicity in the reform era

February 8 2024

 

Week 6. No class (Chinese New Year)

February 15 2024

 

Week 7. Develop the West

February 12 2024

 

Week 8. Ethnicity and ethnic minorities

February 29 2024

 

Week 9. Reading Week (No class)

March 7 2024

 

Week 10. Autonomous regions and prefectures in the PRC

March 14 2024

 

Week 11. Xinjiang

March 21 2024

 

Week 12. Tibet

March 28 2024

 

Week 13. Regional policy in the 2010s

April 4 2024

 

Week 14. Qingming Festival (No class)

April 11 2024

 

Week 15. Belt and Road Initiative

April 18 2024

 

Assessment & Assignments

  1. Class participation  30%
  2. Individual presentations of the week’s assigned readings  20%
  3. Term paper 50%

Honesty in Academic Work

We encourage students to exchange ideas and share resources on assignments for this course. But you have to make sure that any written work you submit is the result of your own research and writing, reflecting your own understanding and thinking about a topic. The University adopts a policy of zero tolerance on academic dishonesty. “Any related offence will lead to disciplinary action including termination of studies at the University.” All students need to be familiar with the University’s policy on academic honesty, which can be found at: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/.

In addition, students should also familiarize themselves with the University’s guidelines on the use of AI tools and exercise caution accordingly:

https://www.aqs.cuhk.edu.hk/documents/A-guide-for-students_use-of-AI-tools.pdf