KSCB169 Borders in China

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Prof. Elena Barabantseva (lecturer), Mag. phil. Ute Wallenböck, Dr. phil. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D.
Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mag. phil. Ute Wallenböck, Dr. phil.
Supplier department: Department of Chinese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 17. 10. 14:00–15:40 K24, 18:00–19:40 B2.43, Tue 18. 10. 16:00–17:40 K12 nerezervovat, 18:00–19:40 K24, Wed 19. 10. 12:00–13:40 B2.43, 18:00–19:40 B2.43, Thu 20. 10. 10:00–11:40 K12 nerezervovat, 12:00–13:40 K23, Fri 21. 10. 12:00–13:40 B2.43, 14:00–15:40 B2.43
Prerequisites (in Czech)
KSCA028 History of Modern China && KSCA009 Chinese IV
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 12 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 2/12, only registered: 0/12, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/12
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course aims to examine the historical, political, social and cultural construction of borders in contemporary China (the focus is on the People’s Republic of China) from a critical perspective. A critical perspective in the context of this module means interrogating borders beyond their traditional territorial meaning. Students will engage with the recent research across a range of disciplinary and intellectual traditions, including Chinese Studies, International Relations, International Political Sociology, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, and Migration Studies. The course will stimulate questioning the organisation of Chinese political and cultural space through familiarisation with and understanding of its bordering practices and the ways they create inequalities and impact identities and citizenship. Throughout the course the students will gain a greater understanding of how political power works to construct and shape borders around and within Chinese society, marginal sites and groups, the relations between majority and minority groups through the dialogical logic of exclusion and inclusion along the markers of ethnicity, gender, class, race, religion, and culture. In particular, the conceptual links between borders and identities, gender, race, family, population and citizenship, and the processes of migration, mobility, diasporic formations, border-crossing, and internal migration will be examined.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:
• To understand, compare, and evaluate scholarly approaches to bordering practices, processes and discourses in contemporary China
• To understand and discuss conceptual links between visual and text-based analyses of China’s border politics.
• Outline and discuss how critically engaging with bordering practices is significant to understanding Chinese politics and society.
• Have a robust knowledge and ability to critically analyse Chinese citizenship, majority-minority relations, the role of ethnicity, race and class
• Develop an informed and independent view on how borders work to structure and organise Chinese politics and society.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: Interrogating Chinese Borders
  • 2. Kinship, Marriage and National Reproduction
  • 3. Citizenship and belonging
  • 4. Border concepts, practices, and livelihoods
  • 5. Sovereignty, National territory and Geo-Body
  • 6. People and Population ‘Quality’
  • 7. Ethnicity and Race
  • 8. Migration and Mobilities
  • 9. National Desires and Dreams
Teaching methods
A variety of learning methods are used in the course, which include:
• Interactive lectures and seminars;
• Whole group, small group and individual teaching and learning;
• Discussion-based and knowledge-based classes
The first classes will be held online on October 10 (Monday): 16.00-17.40, and then there will be an intensive in-person classes between October 17 and 26, 2022.
Assessment methods
ongoing active participation; 750 word critical reflection on one of the documentary films screened and discussed; research essay (3,000 words)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2022/KSCB169