This course will introduce students to the key concepts and analytical lenses (e.g. geopolitical shifts, soft power, debt trap diplomacy, neocolonialism) used to examine the relationships between China and countries of the Global South. Topics covered will include the Belt and Road Initiative, aid and infrastructure investment, trade and energy. Students will assess the outcomes of the relationships for economic growth and development in the global south, dependency and geopolitics.

Face to face teaching: 10 x 1 hour lectures, 10 x 1 hour tutorials.

n/a

n/a

Presentation 15%, 10 minutes

Policy Brief 40%, 2000 words

Essay 45%, 2500 words

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the main concepts, analytical lenses, theories and debates relating to China's growing 21st century relations with countries of the 'Global South.' Students will learn to critically evaluate relevant theories and explanations (e.g. 'debt-trap diplomacy' and 'neo-colonialism'). They will consider the agency that countries of the Global South bring to their interactions with the People's Republic of China, as well as geopolitical rivalries over Global South influence. Finally, students will evaluate the outcomes of China's relationships with countries of the global south in terms of economic growth, development and geopolitics

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. demonstrate that they understand key concepts and analytical lenses used in scholarly debates on China's relationship with countries of the Global South;

2. evaluate competing theories and explanations of China's relations with countries of the Global South;

3. explain the drivers of China's evolving relations with countries of the Global South;

4. demonstrate they understand the outcomes of China's relationships with countries of the global south on their economic growth and development as well as for geopolitics.