This course explores family and social connections (guanxi) as the basic structures of power and authority, resistance and survival, through history and in modern Chinese society. Key concepts from social and political theory are built into the course structure. Family relationships act as models for other forms of relationship, including for those in business and politics. The course traces these connections, showing how relationships are powerfully shaped by—and also shape—Chinese laws, social norms, and cultural practices. Business, family, and local government case studies illustrate the structures of the past as well as the current trajectory of Chinese society.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Analyse the logic and comprehend the variability of patrilineal kinship practices in Chinese societies.
- Critically examine the production and usage of social connections (guanxi) in Chinese societies.
- Understand and apply important concepts in social and political theory, including: power and authority; social networks; institutions and institutional theory; ritual; social, economic, and cultural capital.
- Read deeply for form and content, to extract maximum inspiration from academic texts.
- Articulate the strengths of different research methods in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Structure written work and oral arguments clearly.
Other Information
This is a co-taught course. Any cap on enrolments in one course applies to both courses combined.
Indicative Assessment
- Role-Play House of Lim (Group) (10) [LO 1,2,4,6]
- Critical Summaries (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Tutorial Presentation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Group Research, Presentation, Bibliography (15) [LO 1,2,3,4,6]
- Impromptu Film Critique (5) [LO 1,2,3,6]
- Final Essay (UG 2500 Words) (35) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The course will be structured around 30-36 hours of contact time (the equivalent of three hours a week for 12 weeks). Reading loads will average roughly 50-70 pages per three hours of contact time.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
All texts for this course are available on the course page or in the library.
Preliminary Reading
Readings for Undergraduate students include the following books and journal articles:
Ang, Yuen Yuen 2020. China's Gilded Age Cambridge
Bell, Catherine 2009 [1992]. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. Oxford
Boretz, Avron 2011. Gods, Ghosts and Gangsters. University of Hawai'i Press.
Bourdieu, Pierre 1986 “The Forms of Capital.”
Clegg, Stewart 2011 “Power, Legitimacy, and Authority.”
Deng, Yanhua, and Kevin J. O'Brien. 2013. "Relational Repression in China: Using Social Ties to Demobilize Protesters." China Quarterly
Fong, Vanessa L. 2002. China's One-Child Policy and the Empowerment of Urban Daughters. American Anthropologist
Gold, Thomas, et al (eds). 2002. Social Connections in China: Institutions, Culture and the Changing Nature of Guanxi. Cambridge
Goodman, Bryna. 1995. Native Place, City, and Nation: Regional Networks and Identities in Shanghai, 1853-1937. University of California Press.
Granovetter, Mark 2005 "The Impact of Social Structure on Economic Outcomes."
Hershatter, Gail 2011 The Gender of Memory: Rural Women and China’s Collective Past. University of California Press
Hillman, Ben. 2010. "Factions and Spoils"The China Journal
Kipnis, Andrew B. 1996. "Managing Guanxi in a North China Village." Modern China
Kipnis, Andrew B. 2002. "Zouping Christianity as Gendered Critique?" Anthropology and Humanism
Kuhn, Philip A. 1970 Rebellion and Its Enemies in Late Imperial China. Harvard
North, Douglass 1990. Institutions, Institutional Change, and Economic Performance. Cambridge
Oksala, Johanna 2016 "Microphysics of Power."
Osburg, John 2013. Anxious Wealth. Stanford.
Sangren, P. Steven 2017 Filial Obsessions: Chinese Patriliny and Its Discontents. Palgrave
Szonyi, Michael 2017 The Art of Being Governed. Princeton
Tsai, Kellee S. 2000. "Banquet Banking" China Quarterly
Wolf, Margery 1968 The House of Lim. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Zito, Angela 1987 "City Gods, Filiality, and Hegemony in Late Imperial China." Modern China
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $3840 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $4980 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3675 | 21 Feb 2022 | 28 Feb 2022 | 31 Mar 2022 | 27 May 2022 | In-Person and Online | View |
