Page 103 - HKSYU Prospectus 2023-24

History

HIST 440 Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta: Economic and Social Change since 1978
1 Term; 3 Credits
This course focuses on the transformations of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta
between the early twentieth century and now. It examines the interactions among the economy,
society, and culture since 1978. The issues include the transformations of the Hong Kong-
Guangdong relationship, Hong Kong’s role amid such transformations, the interactive
relationship between the two places in terms of economy, society, and culture, their mutual
integration after 1997, and so forth.

HIST 450 China in the Contemporary World
1 Term; 3 Credits
This course examines major issues in China’s often stormy and argumentative
interactions with other parts of the world in contemporary politics, economy, values, health,
environment, energy, resources, military, the balance of power and mutual perceptions etc.,
with a special focus on its rapidly changing relations with the major powers since its dramatic
economic progress in the 1970s till the present day. The course prepares students for future
leadership roles by equipping them with an update and solid understanding of China, its
isolation and “return” to the world community to be ready for the unique challenges the nation
will face as it rises towards world power status.

HIST 460 Intellectual History of Modern China
1 Term; 3 Credits
This is a history of the intellectual odyssey of the modern Chinese intelligentsia from late
Qing through the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. Increasingly alienated from the
old order after the abortive 1898 reforms, and confronted with the need for national survival,
members of the highly nationalist intelligentsia rejected Chinese, specifically Confucian, culture
in total favour of “scientism” and “democracy” during the New Culture and May Fourth period.
After 1919, the ideological split within the ranks of the intellectuals turned many disillusioned
with the capitalist West to socialist ideas, including Marxian communism, and others to a new
interpretation of Confucianism. This course also examines the ascendancy of Communism in
the early 1920s within the socialist discourse, and the Sinicization of Communism, culminating
in the formation of Mao Zedong ( 毛澤東 ) Thought in the 1940s.

HIST 462 The Making of Modern Japan
1 Term; 3 Credits
Modern Japan’s rapid and successful modernization is regarded by many as a “miracle”
particularly in contrast to other aspiring Asian countries. This course aims to study the political,
social, economic and military developments of modern Japan with emphasis on the following
topics: traditional elements facilitating Japan’s modernization; key modernization actions taken
in the late Tokugawa and Meiji periods; political changes and development beginning at the
Taisho period; the rise of militarism between the two world wars and Japanese invasion of Asia;

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