Fall 2007 Course Description
Politics and Process (Videoconference)
| Section Title: |
Contemporary U.S.-China Relations: Issues, Challenges and Prospects |
| Instructor(s): |
David Firestein |
| Course: |
P A 383D - Politics and Process (Videoconference)
(previously Policy Development) |
| Unique Number: |
65563 |
| Day & Time: |
Fridays, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Room: |
SZB 323 |
| Waitlist Information: | For LBJ Students: UT Waitlist Information
For Non LBJ Students: LBJ School Waitlist Instructions |
| Notes: |
Meets with ANS 36 |
This course fulfills requirements for the following specialization(s):
Description: Few bilateral relationships in the modern era can claim the profile, sensitivity, complexity, scope and history of the U.S.-China relationship. China - a nuclear and space power, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and an active geopolitical player in key regional arenas such as East Asia and Central Asia - commands the personal attention of the U.S. president on virtually a daily basis. Taught by a career U.S. diplomat with five years of recent experience in Beijing and native-level fluency in Mandarin Chinese, this course will review the major issues in contemporary U.S.-China relations, from human rights, Taiwan, North Korea, and trade; to the expansive Strategic Economic Dialogue agenda, military and strategic relations, and U.S. and Chinese participation in the emerging Asian regional architecture. It will also explore the "softer" factors that contribute to both the substance and tenor of the relationship, including the media, public opinion, and cultural and educational exchanges. Drawing on some of the most up-to-date scholarly and policy resources on the U.S.-China relationship currently available (including authoritative guest speakers, as circumstances permit), the course will afford students real-world insights into this critical bilateral relationship and provide them with opportunities to sharpen their policy-oriented writing and briefing skills. The course will be of particular interest to those interested in pursuing careers in government (e.g., Foreign Service, intelligence, defense).
All students will draft a number of policy memos and give an oral briefing. The undergraduate students will also take a final exam. For the graduate students, there will be a number of enhanced requirements, including supplemental reading assignments and a longer final writing project (which will entail additional meetings with the professor, e.g., to discuss/hone the topic, report on research, etc.).
David Firestein's Homepage
Return to Fall 2007 Course Schedule
