Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3202: China in World Affairs

This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims to provide you with the analytical tools to critically examine China’s evolving role in world politics. You will develop a keen awareness of the theoretical and conceptual debates surrounding China’s rise and gain an appreciation of the ways in which China’s historical legacy have shaped its worldview and foreign policy. This theoretical, conceptual and historical knowledge will then be applied to analyse China’s contemporary international relations and global governance role. Through a detailed case-study focus on some of China’s bilateral, regional and institutional relationships as well as its involvement in key thematic global governance challenges, you will complete this module with a solid understanding of the complexities surrounding China’s global role in the 21^st century.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Analyse key theoretical frameworks and contemporary debates on Chinas rise; 2. Identify and evaluate the various factors influencing Chinese foreign policy and global engagement; 3. Assess Chinas major bilateral, regional and institutional relationships; 4. Critically analyse Chinas evolving role in global governance;
Discipline-Specific Skills	5. Critically evaluate competing IR theories as they relate to China; 6. Deploy theoretical arguments and apply them to empirical case studies;
Personal and Key Skills	7. Conduct independent research and write cogent analytical essays; 8. Exercise critical independent thinking and formulate critical arguments; 9. Communicate effectively through submitted written work and seminar contributions; 10. Engage in constructive peer evaluation.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Part I: Analytical framing: theory, concepts and history

The first section examines the main theoretical and conceptual frameworks to interpret China’s foreign policy and global engagement. We will also consider the role of history and how key historical developments have shaped China’s international relations.

Part II: China’s evolving relations with the world

The second section examines China’s key relationships at the bilateral, regional and global level.

Part III: China’s role in global governance

The third section adopts a thematic and case-study analysis of China’s role in global governance. We will examine the extent to which China is supporting, resisting or establishing alternatives to the existing global governance architecture.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
44	256	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	44	22 x 2 hours seminars
Guided Independent Study	80	Seminar preparation: complete assigned readings and other possible tasks
Guided Independent Study	140	Essay preparation: researching, reading and writing the essays
Guided Independent Study	36	Presentation preparation: researching, reading, and written and oral presentation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay outlines	2 x 500 words	7-9	Written

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
80	0	20

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay 1	40	3,500 words	1-9	Written
Essay 2	40	3,500 words	1-9	Written
Individual Presentation	20	20 minutes	1-6, 8-9	Verbal and written
	0
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay 1 (40%)	3,500 word essay	1-9	August/September reassessment period
Essay 2 (40%)	3,500 word essay	1-9	August/September reassessment period
Presentation (20%)	Individual written assignment, 2000 words	1-6, 8-9	August/September reassessment period

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Shaun Breslin (ed.) Handbook of China’s International Relations (London: Routledge, 2010).

Rosemary Foot and Andrew Walter, China, the United States, and Global Order (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011).

David Shambaugh, China Goes Global: The Partial Power (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2013).