PPOG 667 Chinese Foreign Policy

The rise of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to great power and even superpower status compels us to consider of the causes of its foreign policy. This graduate research course examines the international relations of the PRC, both in theory and practice, and prepares students to conduct their own research in Chinese foreign policy. It considers the structure and context of foreign policy decision-making within the PRC, as well as domestic and external influences on Chinese foreign policy. Particular attention is paid to the ideological influences on Chinese foreign policy, its historical similarities and differences in the Cold War and current periods, and the role of the People’s Liberation Army and Party in foreign policy development and formulation. The course also considers the PRC’s relations with its allies and its enemies, with particular attention paid to Sino-American relations.

The course provides a graduate level examination of China’s foreign policy. PPOG 667 introduces public policy students to the history of Chinese foreign policy as well as its contemporary foreign policy under the Chinese Communist Party. United States decision-makers and analysts must grasp the components of Chinese foreign policy that define its permanent interests as well as how the Chinese Communist Party has sustained and alter these interests.   

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided topic for each discussion. Each thread must be 400–500 words in length and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be original and unique and should be 200–350 words. 

Research Paper Assignments (3)

Research Paper: Memorandum Assignment

Students will compose a memorandum describing the central research question, research objectives, an original argument, and the academic contribution the paper will make, along with an outline for the paper. The reader should walk away with a clear sense of the scholarly significance of the proposed project, along with the specific arguments and scholars the paper will converse with. This memo must be one page or less in length, single-spaced.

Research Paper: Mini-Proposal Assignment

Students will compose an eight-to-nine-page proposal (For master’s level, six-to-seven pages) which clearly states the research question, research objectives, describes the central argument. An abbreviated literature review should comprise at least half of the body of the paper and illustrate how the research project will further academic knowledge on the project’s theme of focus. Building out of the literature review, the proposal must also lay out a feasible, social science-based plan for carrying out the research and building the central argument, a plan which specifies data sources, methods and clearly identifies anticipated challenges associated with project completion. Students should use peer-reviewed work to justify their research design choices and must convincingly demonstrate that their proposed research design is appropriate for the study of their own research question. Although it is assumed that final research projects for the course will generate policy prescriptions/recommendations, the focus of this assignment is on laying the foundation needed to complete the research itself.

Research Paper: Final Assignment

Students will compose a 25-to-30-page (For master’s level, 20-to-25 pages) (excluding title page and bibliography) research paper, based upon the mini-proposal. Policy implications should be offered toward the end of the paper, based upon the student’s research findings and conclusions. Feedback from the proposal must be incorporated into the final project.