POSC 235 US & China: Images and Politics

“The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century,” says President Obama (July 27, 2009). This very important and dynamic relationship will be the focus of the course. We will examine the following questions: What is the nature of their relationship? How has it been changing over time? What factors shape this relationship? What are the impacts of this relationship on regional security and world peace? Students will learn the historical legacies that link the United States and China, their intercultural communications, their mutual images and stereotypes, and how these perceptions shape their relations. Student learning will be based on course readings, in-class discussions and the viewing of documentary films that offer additional background on the topic. Students will learn to think critically about contemporary foreign policy and analyze today’s Sino-US relations in depth through debates and written essays.