Contemporary political and social ideas in China in the 20th and 21st centuries 3800-WIPCH26-K-OG

Familiarizing students with the reception of Western political ideas present in China at the
beginning of the 20th century, including the thought of Sun Yat-sen, inspirations drawn from
Western social philosophy, and its reception in China. The course will also discuss elements
of Chinese philosophy that influenced the development of social and political philosophy in
China in the 20th century. An important component will be the analysis of the origins of
dialectical materialism and Marxism in China. The course includes an examination of the
transformations from the Maoist period to the era of reform and opening up to the world
(from 1978). Students will be introduced to the history of China in the 20th and 21st
centuries, with particular emphasis on the political thought of successive leaders of the PRC,
and will develop competences in identifying propaganda texts produced within and outside
the PRC for the purposes of internal and external propaganda.

1. Western social and political thought in China at the beginning of the 20th century.
2. Western philosophy in the early 20th century: reception and sinicization.
3. Key elements of Chinese philosophy incorporated into 20thcentury social and political
thought.
4. The political and intellectual legacy of Sun Yat-sen.
5. Marxism in China: sources and interpretations.
6. The formation of Mao’s thought and Maoism.
7. The ideological foundations of Maoism.
8. The reform period under Deng Xiaoping: an attempt at democratic change?
9. The concept of freedom in China: a comparative perspective.
10. The leadership of Hu Jintao and China’s global ambitions.
11. Liberalism, the New Left, New Confucianism, and social democracy in China.
12. Neo-authoritarianism in China.
13. The idea of a harmonious society and human rights in China.
14. Towards a “community of common destiny” – what does China seek to offer the
world?

Course coordinators

Patrycja Pendrakowska

Type of course

general courses

Learning outcomes

The course “Contemporary Political and Social Ideas in China in the 20th and 21st
Centuries” provides knowledge of the major ideological currents in contemporary
China and develops skills in the analysis of philosophical, political, and propaganda
texts.

Acquired knowledge:
 Knowledge of contemporary political and social ideas in China in the 20th and 21st
centuries.
 Knowledge and understanding of key concepts such as materialism, Marxism,
dialectics, liberalism, social democracy, human rights, Sinicization, neo-
authoritarianism, the New Left, and New Confucianism.
 Understanding of the significance and evolution of major ideological trends in
contemporary China.

Acquired skills:
 Ability to analyze and identify propaganda texts.
 Ability to interpret selected philosophical and political texts produced in the People's
Republic of China in the 20th and 21st centuries.
 Ability to independently search for, collect, and use relevant data sources.
Acquired social competences:
 Ability to critically evaluate sources of information and ideological narratives.
 Readiness to engage in informed discussions on contemporary political and social
ideas in China.
 Openness to different cultural, political, and intellectual perspectives.

Assessment criteria

The learning outcomes will be verified in the form of an essay written during the classes.
There will be three topics to choose from, related to the material discussed during the course.

Allowed number of absences per semester: 2

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: