This is a discussion-based graduate seminar aims at enhancing students’ understanding and developing critical analysis of China’s spatial development, and supporting students’ process of building the intellectual connections for research. The seminar focuses mainly on the internal dynamics of China’s spatial structures. The course first examines major spatial issues (population and land) in the pre-modern era as a background; the main focus is on contemporary China’s spatial development, especially in relation to industrialization, urbanization and demography.
The main topics are: the rural-urban dual system, the hukou system, the spatial structures of the state and the economy, migration and the family, rural land and urbanization issues. The course draws on literature in geography and other social science disciplines. Each student is expected to complete weekly readings, participate in presentations and discussions, and prepare a research paper (or equivalent) in the second half of the course.