1. WHY STUDY CHINA?
Despite the emphasis on the modern European state, it is one of the first national states— 4000 years old. It has previously led the world in innovation.
1.3 billion people (but shrinking faster than India)… 175 cities with more than a million people (vs. 9 in the US).
5-10% annual economic growth a year since the end of the Cultural Revolution; Today: GDP per cap at PPP = 9,800 (2.5 x India’s; 1/5 of the US); its Gini coefficient now = to that of the US. $600B in mostly complementary trade with US.
Its economic structure—growing middle classes, limited lootable assets, physical location, and lack of existential threats make it a major long-term candidate for democratization.
It is a serious ideological (the Beijing Consensus) and potential military competitor for the US over the long run– Many realists think that conflict is inevitable.
On the other hand, thus far its location, history, ethnic homogeneity (90% Han), dominant ideology (isolationism; Confucianism), pol. stability (competitive oligarchy; lots of meritocracy), increasingly professional army, and well-executed US policy have led it to be a unique example of a peaceful rise.
It is an interesting counter-example to Russian communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

2. TOTALITARIANISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM IN CHINA
Period 1: Revolution and complete totalitarianism?
1919 overthrow of the west-weakened Qing dynasty -> Civil War with the western- supported nationalists -> Consolidation of a “Marxist” revolution: 1949
Why ebbs and flows with Chairman Mao’s hold?:
Separation of powers? Balancing power bw party and state
And bw different approaches to nationalism: Radical socialism for the masses (“Reds” or “populists”) vs. moderate authoritarian nationalists (“experts” or elitists)
Mao’s “Campaigns” vs. Soviet “purges”
The Great Leap Forward ( ) vs. The Cultural Revolution ( )
Period 2: From totalitarianism by cult into institutional author. and oligarch
Deng Xiaoping, “the Senior Vice-Premier” and anti-Mao ( )
The four modernizations: Ag, Indust, Science, Army
The one-child policy
Formal transitions: 2 five-year terms at the top with age mandatory retirements

3. INSTITUTIONALIZING AUTHORITARIANISM IN CHINA
Period 3: Growth and uncertainty 
The 1989 movement and a potential split in the regime: Tiananmen Square
1997: Power consolidation under Jiang Zemin leads to the death of communism and democracy movements in China… but the long-term strategy of the regime changes?
Making China a global economic (“sticky”) and “soft power” player rather than a model communist power – leads to WTO 2001.
Promoting technocrats at all levels of the party
Very limited democratization with a strong emphasis on wewen (stability policy), and a large focus on internal rejuvenation that allows for a large array of opinion w/in the CCP…esp under Hu Jintao
Period 4: The Chinese Dream and “National Rejuvenation”
Xi Jinping centralizes power with purges… Why not more democracy?
Nationalism ala Putin with a softer touch? The Olympics, and international expansion (economics, but esp. military aggression)

4. POLITICAL POWER IN CHINA…VERY BRIEFLY
The Chinese Communist Party
General secretary (1), Standing committee (7), Central Committee (350), National Party Congress (2000), and a highly fluid nomenklatura (30 million strong, including about 1/3 of the country’s leading “capitalists”)
The Chinese State (almost all are also party leaders)
A written constitution with lots of liberties, but…
President
State council, standing committee (Politburo), & the PM
The Standing Committee of the NPC (155 members). Meets just once every year.
The People’s Congress (2000 or so). Meets every five years to rubberstamp. This is where actual elections happen… with very little choice
The danwei (work unit) and hukou (household registration) system
The People’s Liberation Army

5. CAN YOU HAVE PERESTROIKA WITHOUT GLASNOST?
How has the leadership rotation and an emphasis on merit made China work better than in Russia’s final days? How is party membership changing? Why does it matter that reform started much earlier than Russia and Iran?
How does China’s huge population impact the choices and opportunities for the CCP? How does the distribution of the population help/hinder democracy? What lies ahead?
How does the origin of China’s wealth impact the CCP ? Why may China have to distribute wealth (as high as 6K per cap PPP now) more equally? Why doesn’t Russia’s elite have to worry as much?
How does Chinese nationalism impact the choices and opportunities for the CCP? Would a US confrontation help to make China more democratic or less?
Why can China compete globally in a way the Soviets and Russia couldn’t? How and why are they doing so well? Is there a limit to the growth?
Will Chinese politics reach an equilibrium that doesn’t include democracy or is a transition inevitable? What about Russia