U.S. / CHINA RELATIONSYu Youhan (born 1943), Mao and Statue of Liberty, 1994, oil on canvas.
Political Science 459/559 U.S. / CHINA RELATIONS Spring 2000
Goals of Course: This course will examine the evolution of relations between China and the United States. We will consider diplomatic, economic, cultural, and military tensions and cooperation, with special attention to recent controversies between the two powers.
Instructor: Richard Kraus. Office: 821 PLC Hall. Phone: 346-4894. E-mail: rkraus@oregon.uoregon.edu. Office hours: Tuesdays 3:30-5:30, Fridays 1-1:50, or by appointment. Course webpage: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~rkraus/u_s.htm
Classroom: 138 Gilbert. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2-2:50 p.m.
Required Texts:
Ralph N. Clough, Cooperation or Conflict in the Taiwan Strait?
Andrew J. Nathan and Robert S. Ross, The Great Wall and the Empty Fortress : China's Search for Security.
Elizabeth Economy and Michel Oksenberg, eds., China Joins the World.
Melvyn C. Goldstein, The Snow Lion and the Dragon : China, Tibet, and the Dalai Lama
China News Digest. This electronic review of news from China is published three times each week, and is found at http://www.cnd.org/CND-Global/. For e-mail subscriptions, mail requests to CND-INFO@CND.ORG.
Course Requirements for Undergraduates:
1. A mid-term exam will consist of one essay and no more than 5 short-answer questions and identifications to be drawn from readings and lectures.2. A final examination will consist of one essay and several short-answer questions or identifications. For the essay, you may choose from two topics which will be announced in advance. There will be no exams earlier than the university schedule; please do not request a special exam to fit your vacation plans.
3. It is my policy in this course that the grade of A should be earned by written work of high quality. Each student who wishes to be eligible for the an A must write an 7-10 page optional essay on a topic to be negotiated with me. These essays are due on June 5, by 3 pm. Note that this is Monday of exam week. Completion of the essay in itself does not guarantee an A; it has to be excellent work. If you choose to write the essay, it will make up one third of your course grade (with mid-term and final exams thus worth one third each); otherwise the two exams will be equally weighted. The optional essay makes you decide how much time you want to invest in this course. If you do well on both exams, but write no paper, you will receive my undying admiration and a final grade of B+. Even if you are not aiming for an A, you might consider writing the optional paper, which could raise your grade from a disappointing performance on the mid-term.
Course Requirements for Graduates: The grade will be based solely upon a research paper of 20-25 pp., due on June 5. See me early in the term to discuss your ideas for a paper topic.
Basis for Grading: Command of course materials, originality of thought, style of presentation (including care of preparation for papers).
Mao by Andy Warhol, 1974.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR US/CHINA RELATIONS
1. March 27. Why is Taiwan a Problem?
Clough, 1-4.
2. April 3. Approaches to the Taiwan Problem
Clough, 5-7.
Nathan & Ross, 11-12.
3. April 10. Legacies and Neighbors
Nathan & Ross, 1-5.
4. April 17. Asian Neighbors and Policy-Making
Nathan & Ross, 6-7.
April 21: mid-term examination
5. April 24. Military Issues
Nathan & Ross 8.
Economy & Oksenberg, 3, Appendix A.
6. May 1. Doing Business with China
Nathan & Ross, 9.
Economy & Oksenberg, 5, 6, 7.
7. May 8. Human Rights
Nathan & Ross, 10.
Economy & Oksenberg, 4.
8. May 15. China and Global Environmental Issues
Economy & Oksenberg, 8, 9.
9. May 22. China in Tibet
Goldstein, 1-99.
10. May 29. Tibet as an issue in Sino-American Relations
May 29: Memorial day (no class).
Goldstein, 100-130.
June 5. Papers due by 3 pm.
June 8. Final Examination: 3:15-5:15 pm.
Wei Guanqing (born 1966) Red Wall - Marilyn Monroe, oil & paper on canvas.
Paintings by Yu Youhan and Wei Guanqing courtesy of ShanghART
