Transforming China: local and global perspectives

Course goals

• describe and understand the historical evolution of the country and the forces that have shaped its recent development;
• understand economic, political, social, and geographical transformation in China;
• grasp regional and urban dynamics, development issues, and sustainability challenges in contemporary China;
• critically assess recent policies, governance changes, and planning transitions as a response to address the challenges, and provide recommendations for sustainable development;
• assess the interactions between global and local development processes and the influence of China on the world.

Content

    China’s rapid economic rise from the early 1980s has captured the world’s imagination. So does the profound social, cultural, and spatial transformation that the country has been undergoing and continues to undergo at an unprecedented scale. The latter is visible in every corner of the country, no matter how remote.
    Rapid economic development has led to a number of sustainable challenges regarding environmental problems, issues of migrant integration, an aging population, and social inequality. Indeed, social, economic, and environmental sustainability and stability have come under pressure. It has been recognized that adjustment of the growth model—pursued by China’s leadership over the past decades—is imperative in order to not only sustain growth but also to achieve a broad-based increase in the standard of living and solve imbalances in development during the rapid urbanization process. In the meanwhile, the main features of a new development model and path are clear. A range of reforms has been devised. What are the issues associated with the ‘old’ model of urbanization? What is the substance of the ‘new’ model of urbanization? What are the new institutional arrangements, governance activities, planning practices, economic models, and social and environmental policies to address sustainability challenges? What outcomes are produced?
    Besides, China is increasingly manifesting itself in, and impacting, other regions on the globe through rapidly growing production, trade, investment, and international migration; its role in institutions of global governance is changing. China going global and its growing impact (combined with the domestic issues) have given rise to substantial scientific discourse and public debate in many parts of the world. What are the new policy initiatives, and how do they influence the world?
    The course addresses the above questions. It starts by discussing the evolution of China and its historical development with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. Next, attention is given to the country's diversity and the patterns of economic, social, and geographical transformation. Subsequently, the institutional forces, governance, and urban planning that have shaped China’s dynamics over the past decades are scrutinized. In this framework, issues of unity focus on the regional patterns of change and the rural-urban divide; stability focuses on urbanization and unequal development, issues of migrant integration, and social and geographical fragmentation; and sustainability emphasizes economic, environmental, and social problems. It also discusses emerging planning practices and policies (e.g., collaborative planning, smart cities, AI-related urban governance, water management, nature-based solutions, and micro-regeneration) to address sustainability challenges.



Please note that this course has a maximum capacity of 90 students
Participation is only possible for registered students.  

In case of oversubscription, students will be admitted by drawing of lots