COMPARATIVE POLITICS: AREAS 40 - Topics in Area Politics

Institution:

Dartmouth College

Subject:

Description:

08F: 12 09F: 10A 10W: 2A This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in Regional Politics not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies. In 08F, Political Economy of the Arab Gulf States. For decades the Arab Gulf states-Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait-were viewed both economically and politically as anomalies, utterly dependent on world oil markets for their development, conservative if not backward, and marked by highly authoritarian regimes. However, the creation within the region of the Gulf Cooperation Council as an economic bloc, and the emergence of Dubai as a post-oil financial and commercial center for the region, are clear indicators of the changing economic (and perhaps political) fortunes of the local countries. Vandewalle.In 09F and 10W, Chinese Politics: The Reform Period. The conventional wisdom on China's post-1978 experience holds that the government has encouraged economic reform without allowing for political opening up. In this course, we will explore whether this view accurately captures the essence of China's reform period. We will first examine the successes and failures of the economic reforms, paying attention to the gap between the rich coastal provinces and the poor hinterlands. We will then focus on the political reforms undertaken in China since 1978. In particular, we will examine such harbingers of change as the introduction of village elections, the growing role of the courts, the rise of associational activity, the nature of the Chinese press, and the role of intellectuals. We will also focus on certain problems, such as the spread of corruption, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and limits to religious freedom. By the end of the course, we will have a good sense of China's progress during the reform era, as well as an appreciation of the remaining problem s. Dist: SOC; WCult: N W. Dimitrov

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.dartmouth.edu

Phone Number:

(603) 646-1110

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Quarter

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