Crash Course China

Lesson 1 • Imperial China and Dynastic Cycles

Traces key dynasties from Qin unification through Qing decline. Reveals recurring governance patterns that echo in contemporary institutions.

Lesson 2 • Century of Humiliation and National Identity

Analyses foreign encroachments from the mid-19th century through 1949. Explains why historical grievance remains a powerful driver of Chinese foreign policy.

Lesson 3 • Physical Geography and Regional Diversity

Covers major terrain zones, river systems, and climate belts shaping economic activity. Establishes spatial literacy needed for all subsequent regional analysis.

Lesson 1 • Sub-national Governance and Local Power

Examines provincial, municipal, and county-level governance tiers. Explains how local officials balance central mandates with regional interests.

Lesson 2 • Ideology, Legitimacy, and Social Control

Covers official ideology from Mao Zedong Thought through Xi Jinping Thought. Connects ideological tools to mechanisms of social stability and censorship.

Lesson 3 • State Institutions and Government Apparatus

Maps the State Council, ministries, and legislative bodies alongside party structures. Shows the dual-track party-state system in practice.

Lesson 4 • Anti-corruption Campaigns and Institutional Reform

Analyses the scope and political logic of anti-corruption drives since 2012. Assesses how institutional reforms reshape bureaucratic behaviour and business risk.

Lesson 1 • Reform and Opening: 1978 to 2000

Traces Deng Xiaoping's reform sequence from agricultural decollectivisation to WTO accession. Establishes the institutional foundations of China's economic rise.

Lesson 2 • Macroeconomic Challenges and Rebalancing

Addresses debt accumulation, demographic decline, and the shift from investment to consumption. Prepares students to assess medium-term economic risks.

Lesson 3 • State-owned Enterprises and Industrial Policy

Examines the role of state-owned enterprises across strategic sectors. Explains how industrial policy guides investment, competition, and national champions.

Lesson 4 • Financial System and Capital Markets

Covers banking structure, equity markets, and capital account management. Links financial architecture to broader economic stability and reform goals.

Lesson 1 • Religion, Civil Society, and Public Space

Covers the five officially recognised religions and the constrained civil society landscape. Explains how the party manages public expression and collective identity.

Lesson 2 • Class Structure and Social Mobility

Profiles the emerging middle class, urban elite, and rural poor. Analyses how education and party membership shape upward mobility pathways.

Lesson 3 • Family, Gender, and Generational Change

Examines family structure shifts from one-child policy effects to evolving gender roles. Highlights generational differences in values, consumption, and political expectations.

Lesson 4 • Urbanisation and the Hukou System

Explains the household registration system and its role in shaping migration and urban inequality. Connects demographic mobility to labour markets and social services.

Lesson 1 • Belt and Road Initiative and Economic Diplomacy

Examines the Belt and Road Initiative's infrastructure, financing, and geopolitical logic. Evaluates partner country experiences and debt sustainability concerns.

Lesson 2 • Relations with Major Powers

Covers China's relationships with the United States, Russia, the EU, and Japan. Maps competitive, cooperative, and contested dimensions of each relationship.

Lesson 3 • Strategic Culture and Foreign Policy Doctrine

Traces the evolution from Deng's low-profile strategy to Xi's assertive global posture. Identifies core principles driving Chinese diplomatic behaviour.

Lesson 4 • Regional Disputes and Security Posture

Addresses Taiwan, South China Sea, and border disputes with factual grounding. Connects territorial claims to domestic legitimacy and military modernisation.

Lesson 1 • Intellectual Property and Compliance Risks

Covers IP protection strategies, technology transfer risks, and anti-bribery compliance. Equips professionals to manage legal exposure in Chinese operations.

Lesson 2 • Market Entry Modes and Regulatory Environment

Compares wholly foreign-owned enterprises, joint ventures, and representative offices. Maps the regulatory approval process and sector-specific restrictions.

Lesson 3 • Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing

Analyses China's manufacturing ecosystem, supplier selection, and quality control practices. Addresses supply chain resilience amid geopolitical and cost pressures.

Lesson 4 • Negotiation Styles and Communication Patterns

Decodes indirect communication, patience tactics, and consensus-building in Chinese negotiations. Prepares professionals to read signals and adapt their approach.

Lesson 1 • Research, Development, and Innovation Policy

Analyses R&D spending trends, university-industry linkages, and state-directed innovation programmes. Evaluates the gap between innovation inputs and quality outputs.

Lesson 2 • Cybersecurity, Data Governance, and Digital Sovereignty

Explains China's data governance laws, cybersecurity requirements, and digital sovereignty doctrine. Prepares professionals to manage compliance and data risk.

Lesson 3 • Artificial Intelligence and Semiconductor Strategy

Examines China's AI development goals, talent base, and chip supply chain vulnerabilities. Connects technology policy to national security and great-power competition.

Lesson 4 • Digital Economy and Platform Giants

Profiles the major internet platforms and their dominance across e-commerce, payments, and social media. Explains the regulatory environment shaping platform behaviour.

Lesson 1 • Domestic Stability Risks and Resilience

Evaluates internal stress factors including economic slowdown, demographic decline, and social unrest. Assesses the party's adaptive capacity and potential breaking points.

Lesson 2 • Environmental Commitments and Green Transition

Examines China's carbon neutrality pledges, renewable energy scale-up, and green technology exports. Evaluates credibility gaps between commitments and coal dependency.

Lesson 3 • Scenario Planning and Strategic Recommendations

Applies scenario planning methodology to China's 10-to-20-year outlook. Translates scenarios into actionable recommendations for business, policy, and research professionals.

Lesson 4 • US-China Competition Trajectories

Models decoupling, managed competition, and selective cooperation scenarios. Equips students to anticipate policy shifts affecting trade, technology, and security.