China: An Infrastructural History

HIST 1938 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Any visitor to China today is struck by the country's modern and extensive infrastructure. From the world's largest dams, to high speed railways, and gleaming new cities, the Chinese economic miracle of the past 40 years has been accompanied by a monumental infrastructural revolution. And yet, infrastructural ambition has long characterized successive Chinese states going back millenia. In this conference course (i.e. open to undergraduate and graduate students), we shall explore this history from a variety of perspectives. Although our focus will be on China, we shall, along the way, also interrogate what infrastructure is, recognizing both the power and the limitations of its plasticity.

We will meet once a week for two hours in a seminar setting. Each week we will deal with a major theme in China's infrastructural history. Students will prepare a set of readings for each session and classes will consist of discussions of those readings and other materials of relevance raised by students and by the instructor. Each class session will end with a brief preview of the following week’s readings and discussion themes. 

Prior coursework in Chinese history (in particular on modern China) is recommended but not necessary. If you are uncertain about your preparation, please consult with me.

Course Notes

This course meets the "Beyond North America" History Concentration requirement or may be used to fulfill the seminar requirement.