Featured History Classes Fall 2022

This course examines the development of business culture in China since 1900, looking particularly at how it has transformed and adapted in response to China's own changing political environment as well as China's changing engagement with the West and Japan. We will examine cases of Western businesses in China and Chinese businesses in both China and the West. Topics include the rise of industrialism, the role of foreign investment, China's role in the global market place, the relationship between business and the state, state-run enterprises, factory life, entrepreneurialism, advertising, consumerism, and economic nationalism.

HIST 394 is a fast-paced eight-week online course with weekly interactive discussion boards, weekly reading comprehension quizzes, and a short (3-4 page) paper on course readings due every two weeks. Readings include (but are not limited to) a fascinating study of economic development since the mid-1960s in a single village, a book written by an investigative reporter on women factory workers in China in the early 2000s, and a series of case studies of specific Chinese and multi-national businesses. Each week has a couple of short lectures to provide background, and some weeks include an additional video.

HIST 394 course satisfies Goal 4.2 of the KU Core.