DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE UNIVERSITY LAHORE

COURSE HANDBOOK

1 Course Title Political System of China

2 Course Code PS-3107
3 Credit Hours 03
4 Semester 05
5 Course Instructors Muhammad Manzoor Elahi
6 Contact Hours (Theory) 03 hours per week
7 Course Objectives

This course is designed for graduate students to comprehend the politics of People's
Republic of China. The course is divided into six parts, each corresponding with a
particular aspect of Chinese political system. The basic objective of this course is to
develop a cognitive approach in the students to analyse the structural-functional
aspects of political system of China and to come up with their own conclusions. The
ultimate rationale is that by critically evaluating China's system, the students shall
be in a position to reflect more deeply on different political systems of the world.

8 Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, students would be able:

1. To understand the political system of China irrespective of western discourse

of political system.
2. To critically evaluate the structural-functional dimensions of Chinese
political system.
3. To assess the main pillars of China’s model of political development.
4. To analyse how China’s discourse of political system acceptable and
applicable for the world just like the western model of political system.

Page 1 of 6
 9 Course Contents

1. Studying Chinese Politics: An Introduction

2. Approaches to Study Chinese Political System
3. Political History of China
4. Communist Party of China (CPC)
5. Legislative Institute of China
6. Executive Institute of China
7. Local Government System in China

10 Outline of Weekly Lectures & Reading List

Studying Chinese Politics: An Introduction I: Four Faces of Contemporary China

Readings
• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2019), 3-19.
Week 1
• Saich, Tony, Governance and Politics of China 4th Edition (London:
Palgrave, 2015), 1-28

Studying Chinese Politics: An Introduction II: Basic Principles of Chinese

Political System

Reading:
Week 2 • Saich, Tony, Governance and Politics of China 4th Edition (London:
Palgrave, 2015), 1-28

Approaches to Study Chinese Political System I: Elite, Factional and Informal

Politics, Political Institutions and Centre-Local Relations

Readings:
• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford
Week 3 University Press, 2019), 3-19.

• Heilmann, Sebastian, ed., China’s Political System (New York: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 38-43

Approaches to Study Chinese Political System II: Bureaucratic Politics

Political Development, Political Economy and Political Culture

Readings:
• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford
Week 4 University Press, 2019), 3-19.

• Heilmann, Sebastian, ed., China’s Political System (New York: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 38-43

Page 2 of 6
 Political History of China I: Maoism and Political Movements
Readings:
• Saich, Tony, Governance and Politics of China 4th Edition (London:
Week 5
Palgrave, 2015), 29-60.

• Heilmann, Sebastian, ed., China’s Political System (New York: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 23-43.

Political History of China II: Let’s the Hundred Flowers Bloom, Great Leap
Forward
Week 6 Reading:
• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2019), 76-120

Political History of China III: Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square

Readings:
• MacFarquhar, Roderick, The Politics of China: Sixty Years of the People’s
Week 7 Republic of China (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011), 337-350.

• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford

University Press, 2019), 76-120

Political History of China IV: Dengism and his Successors (1976 to the Present)

Week 8 Reading:
• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2019), 125-150

Week 9 Mid-Term Exam

Communist Party of China (CPC): Ideological Framework of CPC

Readings:

• Heilmann, Sebastian, ed., China’s Political System (New York: Rowman &
Week 10 Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 46-70

• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford

University Press, 2019), 202-215

Communist Party of China (CPC): Structure of CPC: Politburo, Standing

Committee, The Secretariat, Functioning of CPC

Week 11 Readings:
• Saich, Tony, Governance and Politics of China 4th Edition (London:
Page 3 of 6
 Palgrave, 2015), 85-115

• Heilmann, Sebastian, ed., China’s Political System (New York: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 46-70

• Joseph, William A., Politics in China: An Introduction (New York: Oxford

University Press, 2019), 202-215
Legislative Institute of China: National People’s Congress, its history and
significance in China

Week 12 Reading:
• Saich, Tony, Governance and Politics of China 4th Edition (London:
Palgrave, 2015), 116-130

Legislative Institute of China: NPC’s Composition, Powers and Functions,

Contemporary Role in Politics

Readings:
• Tony Saich, The National People’s Congress:Functions and Membership,
Week 13 Harverd Kannedy School.
https://ash.harvard.edu/files/ash/files/the_national_peoples_congress.pdf

• Official Website of The National People’s Congress of the People’s

Republic of China
http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/c2846/column2.shtml

Executive Institute of China: The President, Method of Election, Tenure, Power

and Functions

Week 14 Reading:
• Saich, Tony, Governance and Politics of China 4th Edition (London:
Palgrave, 2015), 116-150

Executive Institute of China: Premier and The State Council

Week 15 Reading:
• Heilmann, Sebastian, ed., China’s Political System (New York: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 76-85

Local Government of China: Structure and functions of Local Government

Week 16 Readings:
• Heilmann, Sebastian, ed., China’s Political System (New York: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 99-103

Page 4 of 6
11 Assessment Policy
As per GCU Examination Policy 2021, the assessment criteria is dependent upon
rubric-based marking system to ensure quality paper evaluation. The rubric-based
assessment focuses on following yardsticks for this course;
• Content Knowledge and Conceptual clarity.
• Logical Argumentation and Analytical originality.
• Structure and Organization
• Depth of research and evidence as well as Grammar accuracy.

In addition, the option of time-bound on-campus exams is retained in the new

policy. However, course instructors can also give projects, time-bound open
book/open internet exams, presentations, and long essays for the semester work, the
mid-term exams and the final exams. All these assessments will be based strictly on
rubrics. New marks distribution scheme is;
• Class Participation: (Presentations) 10 = 10
• Class Assignment: (Term Paper) 20 = 20
• Mid Semester Test: (Class Quiz) 20 = 20
• End Semester Exam: (Obj+ Sub) 10+40 = 50

12 Teaching Methodology

Teaching methodology will include lectures and student’s presentations in the class.
The primary emphasis will be on enhancing students’ understanding of the various
modern political systems. Class discussions, class quiz, class assignments and their
presentations will be practiced to ensure the understanding of the basic concepts.

Lecturers will be delivered through Multimedia. The soft copy of reading material
related to lecture will be e-mailed to students prior to lecture.

Before the end of every period, the students will be given an opportunity to ask
questions regarding the lecture. Furthermore, after concluding discussion on any
goal, a couple of questions will be asked from the students, regarding their
understanding of the topic discussed.

13 Attendance and Plagiarism Policy

• Attendance must be at least 80 percent to be eligible to appear in the final
semester exams.

• There is a 'ZERO tolerance' policy against plagiarism. Only 19 % similarity

index is allowed as per the HEC criteria.
14 Recommended Readings
Bell, Daniel A., The China Model: Political Meritocracy and the Limits of
Democracy (New Jersey, Princeton University, 2015)

Blecher, Marc, China Against the Tides, (London: Continum publisher, 2003)

Dittmer, Lowell, Liu Shao-ch’i and the Chinese Cultural Revolution: The Politics of
Page 5 of 6
 Mass Criticism, (London: University of California Press, 1974)

Fitzgerald, C.P., The Birth of Communist China, (London: Penguin Book, 1969)

Gray, jack, Modern Chinese Search for A Political Form, (London: The Camelot
press LTD, 1969)

Hsu, Immanuel C. Y., China Without Mao: The Search for A New World Order,
(Toronto: OUP, 1982)

Kissinger, Henry, On China (New York: Penguin Press, 2011)

MacFarquhar, Roderick, The Politics of China: Sixty Years of the People’s Republic
of China

MacFarquhar, Roderick & Schoenhals Michael, (eds.), Mao's Last Revolution,

(London: Harvard University Press, 2006)

Robinson Thomas W., The Cultural Revolution In China, (London: University of

California Press, 1971)

Snow, Edgar and, Dr. John K. Fairbank, Red Star over China: The Classic Account
of the Birth of Chinese Communism (----: Grove Press, 1994)

Toje, Asle, Will China’s Rise Be Peaceful?: The Rise of a Great Power in Theory,
History, Politics, and the Future (New York: OUP, 2018)

Thornton, Richerd C., China The struggle for power 1917-1972, (London: Indiana
University Press, 1973)

Wang, James C.F., Contemporary Chinese Politics, (New Jersey: Prentice hall,
1989)
Note: In addition to aforementioned reading material handouts will also be
provided.

Page 6 of 6