American Studies, School of Modern Languages and Cultures HKU

This course is a survey of economic, cultural and political relations between China and the United States from a historical perspective from 1784 to today. Main themes include modern US and Chinese pursuits of wealth and power, the changing international conditions of bilateral US-Chinese relations, the influence of domestic politics and ideology, the effects of prejudice and misunderstanding on relations, and political and strategy today. Topics include but are not limited to US-China trade, the US urge to change China, Chinese immigrant experiences in the US, US imperialism in Asia, China’s modernization and forced opening to the West, World War II, the Chinese Revolution, the Cold War, post-Cold War Chinese Communism and the structure of US-Chinese strategic, economic and political relations today.

Elective Course
AMER2053	History of US-China relations	6 credits

This course is a survey of economic, cultural and political relations between China and the United States from a historical perspective from 1784 to today. Main themes include modern US and Chinese pursuits of wealth and power, the changing international conditions of bilateral US-Chinese relations, the influence of domestic politics and ideology, the effects of prejudice and misunderstanding on relations, and political and strategy today. Topics include but are not limited to US-China trade, the US urge to change China, Chinese immigrant experiences in the US, US imperialism in Asia, China’s modernization and forced opening to the West, World War II, the Chinese Revolution, the Cold War, post-Cold War Chinese Communism and the structure of US-Chinese strategic, economic and political relations today.

Prerequisite: Nil
Assessment: 100% coursework
(Offered in 2021/2022)