To study the history of Modern China (1840-1960) we will first analyse the Great Divergence.  Then we shall explore the Imperialism during the 19th century which includes Canton (Guangzhou) system with the Opium wars and their consequences, secret societies and popular movements like Taiping Movement and Boxer Movement, and Reform movement like Self- strengthening movement and 1898 Reform movement. Further, we will delve into the emergence of nationalism in China, underlining the revolution of 1911 (Sun Yat-sen and his ideology), warlordism and May Forth Movement of 1919. Moreover, we will investigate the nationalism and communism by broadening the era of 1921-1927 (Formation of CCP, reorganisation of the KMT/GMD, the Nationalist party and the First United Front) and the era of 1928-1949 ( Kiangsi period, evolution of Maoist strategy, the yenan way and its policies, peasant nationalism and communist victory). Moving from Revolution to Great Leap Forward, we will study the areas of building socialism, China in the world (third world), its relations with Socialist countries and Non-alignment, and the debate on the Great Leap Forward. 

For elucidation of the Japanese history of 1868-1950s, we will first comprehend the transition from feudalism to capitalism by elaborating the crisis of the Tokugawa Bakuhan system, the mojo restoration with its limits to modernisation, and economic change along with agrarian settlement, fiscal policies, capitalism and industrialisation. Moreover, we will see the status of democracy and militarism by analysing popular rights movement- gender, Meji constitution and political parties, and militarism and fascism. Consequently, we will delve into the Japanese imperialism of 1868-1945 by discerning its ideology, expansion and conflict. Lastly, we will read about the American occupation of Japan and post-War reconstruction. 

To understand the Korean past of the same era (1868-1950’s) we will see the Old Order and its institutional decay with reference to Joseon and then Korea’s relations with China, Japan and the western powers. Then we will elaborate the attempts made for social, political and economic reform. Furthermore, we will read about Japan’s colonisation of Korea and growth of Korean Nationalism (1910-1945) by dividing it into 1910-1919-Consolidation of Japanese power, 1910-1931- March First Movement (1919) and Saito reforms (1920’s) and 1931-1945- war mobilisation, Japanese policy of assimilation and Korean response. Lastly, we will study the Korean War.

Part-I: History of Modern China (1840-1960)

I. China and the Great Divergence

II. Imperialism and China during the 19th century

[a] Canton (Guangzhou) system; Opium wars and their consequences 

[b] Secret Societies and popular movements: Taiping movement; Boxer movement 

[c] Reform movements: Self-Strengthening movement; 1898 Reform movement

III. The emergence of Nationalism in China

[a] The Revolution of 1911: Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhong Shan) and his ideology 19

[b] Warlordism 

[c] May Fourth Movement of 1919

IV. Nationalism and Communism

[a] 1921 -1927: Formation of the CCP; reorganisation of the KMT/ GMD (Nationalist Party); the First United Front

[b] 1928-1949: Kiangsi (Jiangxi) period: Evolution of Maoist strategy; the Yenan (Yan’an) Way -- Policies; Peasant Nationalism; Communist Victory

V. From Revolution to Great Leap Forward

[a] Building Socialism 

[b] China in the World: Third World; Relations with Socialist countries; Non Alignment 

 [c] Great Leap Forward: Debates

Part-II: History of Modern Japan and Korea (1868-1950s)

A. Japan 

I. Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism

[a] Crisis of the Tokugawa Bakuhan System 

[b] The Meiji Restoration; limits to modernization 

[c] Economic change: Agrarian Settlement; fiscal policies; Capitalism and Industrialisation

II. Democracy and Militarism

[a] Popular/ People’s Rights Movement ; gender

[b] Meiji constitution; political parties 

[c]Militarism and fascism

III. Japanese Imperialism 1868-1945: ideology; expansion and conflict 

IV. American occupation of Japan and post-War reconstruction

B. Korea 

I. The Old Order and institutional decay: Joseon 

II. Korea’s relations with China, Japan and western powers

III. Attempts at social, political and economic reform

IV. Japan’s colonisation of Korea and growth of Korean Nationalism (1910-1945)

[a] 1910-1919: Consolidation of Japanese power 

[b] 1919-1931: March First Movement (1919); Saito Reforms of 1920s 

 [c] 1931-1945: War mobilisation; Japanese policy of assimilation; Korean response

V. The Korean War