Dr. Gregory Ruf Office: SBS Building, S-537 Telephone: 632-9013 Office Hours: M 4-5, W 3-5 in SBS s-537 Tu 4-5 in Douglass College, Or by appointment

[Course Description] [ Gradings] [ Assignments] [ Study Groups]

Course Description. This course explores changes and continuities in Chinese culture and society across a century of economic upheaval and political turmoil. Offering a survey of major historical developments in twentieth century China, it introduces key concepts and terms used by revolutionary agents and outside observers to influence and understand events and processes involved in the creation of a "modern" China. Drawing on a large body of resource material that includes interdisciplinary scholarly studies, auto/biographical accounts, government documents, journalist reports, popular fiction, film, and photographs, students will assess the impact of the institutional reorganization of Chinese society on people’s lives, livelihoods, world views, and personal relationships.

Requirements and Evaluation. Regular attendance is expected; students are granted two unexcused absences without penalty. Required readings and any other assignments should be completed before class-time, and questions prepared in advance for discussion. Final grades will be calculated on the following basis: Class Participation (10%), Quizzes (30%), Midterm Exam (30%), and a Final Exam (30%). Grades for all quizzes and exams, as well as answer keys, will be posted on the bulletin board outside SBS N-514. Grades will NOT be disclosed by telephone or email.

Assigned Readings will be placed on reserve in the main (Melville) library. A limited selection of recommended materials will also be placed on reserve in the Chinese library (SBS Building, N-504). The following texts have been ordered through "Stony Books" (across from the Stony Brook LIRR station):

• Jung Chang. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. New York: Anchor/Doubleday. 1991 [ISBN 0-385-42547-3]
• Anita Chan, Richard Madsen, and Jonathan Unger. Chen Village: Under Mao and Deng. 2nd edition. Berkeley: University of California, 1992. [ISBN 0-520-08109-9]
• Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power. New York: Vintage/Random House, 1994. [ISBN: 0-79-76393-7]

• Patricia Buckley Ebrey. Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook. 2nd edition. NY: Simon and Schuster, 1993.
• Gregory Ruf. Cadres and Kin: Making a Socialist Village in West China, 1921-1991. Stanford University Press, 1998.
• Bill Brugger & Stephen Reglar. Politics, Economy, and Society in Contemporary China. Stanford University Press, 1994.

Study Groups will be organized to facilitated discussion and review of course material. Be sure to obtain the name, phone number, and email address of all members of your study group. This may assist you in scheduling study or review sessions, or in obtaining copies of class notes for days when you are absent. If you miss a class, do the readings, review the lecture notes of a classmate, and then see me if you have specific questions. All students are encouraged to meet periodically with me during the semester.

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