Time Schedule:
Kam Wing Chan
GEOG 435
Seattle Campus
Examines the impacts of industrialization strategies adopted by the People's Republic of China on urbanization and rural-urban relations. Topics include: economic development strategies, industrial geography, rural industrialization, urban development patterns, migration, and urbanization policies. Recommended: GEOG 336. Offered: Sp.
Class description
This course examines the “China model” of industrialization and urbanization in the post-1949 era. Focus is on the relationship between industrialization and urbanization and the social and economic impacts. To forge rapid industrialization, China created a dual structure and a two-tier system of citizenship, through mechanisms such as the household registration system. This approach helps to generate a massive army of low-cost migrant labor for carrying the strategy of being the “world’s factory” in the last two decades. This course approaches these issues through examining China’s industrialization strategies in the two different eras, the rural/urban socioeconomic structures, rural industrialization, the hukou system, migrant labor, urbanization policies, and urban development. The Chinese experience is studied in the broader context of development and globalization, and the sustainability of the China model is examined. Recommended: Geog/SISEA 236, Geog 336, or a background course on contemporary China. Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of China.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Small lecture/discussion format, and videos.
Recommended preparation
Geog 236/Sisea 236 or a background course in contemporary China.
Class assignments and grading
Weekly readings; tests, one paper and presentation and discussions
See above.
