IAS 45 Research Paper Proposal
For the purposes of this class, the United States and Canada are defined as ‘European’ countries. Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania are not. You are also required to adhere to the 1492-1980 time constraint unless given specific permission by the instructor.
The time period for this research proposal will be from general be from 1970 to 1980, but the main focus of the paper will be from September 1976 to January 1979. The regional focus of the paper is Asia with a specific focus on China.
Theme:
How does your interest in this time and place revolve around the themes of violence, religion/ideology, and/or technology? Are you interested in one of these themes or some combination thereof?
This paper will focus on a combination of the themes of violence, ideology and technology. All of these themes played a significant role in the focus of this paper.
Conflict, Pattern or Change:
What specific conflict, pattern or change can you identify in this setting that addresses the theme(s) that interest you? Be as specific as possible, and try to narrow your focus as much as you can.
This research paper will focus on a change, namely the transformation of China from an intensely inward looking anti-foreign revolutionary polity under the last days of Mao Zedong to the attempt to maintain Mao’s ideas after his death to the mainly outwardly looking, foreign friendly, pragmatic approach initiated by Deng Xiaoping. Specifically, the theme of violence is illustrated in the fighting that went on between pro-Mao forces such as the Red Guards against opponents leading up to his death. The attempt by pro-Mao forces to stay in power after his death, and their purge upon the rise of Deng Xiaoping. The theme of ideology is illustrated in the clash of revolutionary Maoism and practical Deng Xiaoping thought. The theme of technology is illustrated in the flow of technology, both physical and intellectual, into China and its influences as China began opening in the late 1970s.
Significance:
Why should we care about this topic in the greater context of our study of world history?
As daily news about the rise of China is as common as a sports score in the media, this topic is significant because it looks into what was behind the decision of Deng Xiaoping to pivot China’s focus and tactics to embrace international interaction. Suffice it to say that the world would be a much different place now if the supporters of Mao had succeeded in their efforts.
Works Cited
Nathan, Andrew J. “A Factionalism Model for CCP Politics.” The China Quarterly 53 (1973): 34-66. Print.
Spence, Jonathan. The Search for Modern China. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1999. Print.
Tang, Tsou. “Prolegomenon to the Study of Informal Groups in CCP Politics.” The China Quarterly 65 (1976): 98-117. Print.
Yang, Benjamin. “The Making of a Pragmatic Communist: The Early Life of Deng Xiaoping, 1904-49.” The China Quarterly 135 (1993): 444-456. Print.
