PPOG 669 Chinese Grand Strategy

The study of grand strategy entails the long-term, large-scale examination of the means (political, military, diplomatic, and economic) by which states advance their national interests. The course evaluates how China has defined its interests, threats to those interests, and means to address threats through imperial, Republican, and Communist periods. The course considers the similarities across Chinese grand strategies as well as the significant differences, to discern how unit level and systemic factors influence Chinese grand strategy.

PPOG 669 provides a detailed understanding of how China has defined its interest, the threats to those interests, and the means employed to address the threats it faces.  Comprehending Chinese strategic interests and how the Chinese Communist Party perceives threats to its rule, and the means employed to attack its enemies are of paramount importance to U.S. academics, policy-makers, and the analytical community. 

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

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Course Requirements Checklist

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.