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2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

EAST3525 Globalising China and the Developing World

20 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Kweku Ampiah
Email: k.ampiah@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The evolving relationship between China and the developing world is one of the most fascinating and important developments in international development and international relations in the 21st century. China’s relations with Africa and Southeast Asia have seen profound changes, not least in the phenomenal growth in trade between Beijing and many of the countries in the two regions. With the global expansion of China’s international trade has come growth in China’s direct and indirect involvement in the processes of economic development of the developing world, which has empowered many of the developing countries of Africa and Asia to grow their economies. China’s on-going contributions towards infrastructure projects and development initiatives of the developing countries further underlines its role in the transformation some of these countries have experienced since the latter part of the 1990s. While these developments have been constructive in certain regards, they have also raised concerns about China’s insatiable consumption of raw materials and the resultant impact on the political-economy of the developing countries; the impact on the environment has also been part of the normative discourse. Reactions to China’s expanding relations with the developing countries have varied; responses from the Western countries have tended to be interrogative and critical. On the other hand, the governments of the developing countries have largely been amenable and receptive to China’s initiatives. The module would explore Beijing’s overall ambitions in its engagements with the developing world with the view to determining China’s specific and overall interests in the developing countries. The geo-political implications of China’s expanding role in the developing countries would be investigated.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
 To improve students’ understanding of China’s growing power in international affairs in the 21st Century.
 To alert students to China’s specific interests, economically and politically, in the developing world.
 To explore China’s roles in economic development in Asia and Africa.
 To evaluate the forms and operations of China’s Direct Overseas Investment in the developing countries.
 To examine China’s impact on global energy security
 To examine and assess the impact China’s growing influence globally has had on governance in the developing world.
 To explore the forms of domestic opposition (in the African and Asian countries) to China’s impact on their countries.
 Interrogate the West’s critique of China’s influence in the developing world.

Learning outcomes
1. Should be conversant with the discourse on China's International relations and ambitions in global affairs.
2. Should have a broad knowledge of the discourse regarding China's role in International development.
3. Should have a good understanding of the debate regarding the "China Threat".


Syllabus

Topics may include:

East Asian International Relations post 1945.
Post-colonial International Politics in the context of the Cold War: The Discourse of the Bandung Conference of 1955.
The Post-Cold War era and China’s growing power.
The forms and operations of Chinese Direct Investment in the developing world.
China’s evolving geo-political interests in Southeast Asia.
China’s energy interests in Southeast Asia.
China’s evolving relations with the African countries.
China’ raw materials and energy interests in Africa.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture101.0010.00
Seminar101.0010.00
Private study hours180.00
Total Contact hours20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Preparation for weekly seminars - 10 x 2 hours = 20 hours

Researching, planning and writing up assessment essay = 30 hours

Independent online learning (online tutorials such as academic integrity/referencing and web of science (tutorials offered by skills@library) = 10 hours

Revising for examination = 20 hours

Preparatory reading for lectures = 50 hours



Opportunities for Formative Feedback

 Through seminar presentations and regular weekly discursive interaction of students in the classes (mainly seminars) with the module tutor
 Assessment essay and feedback on it before the end of semester examination (students may submit an essay plan as a formative piece for the assessed essay)
 Revision in class
 Tutor office hours

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation2,500 words50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment48 hr 00 mins50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/07/2023

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