China has become increasingly central to global technological competition and geopolitical tensions, yet Chinese law and governance remain opaque to most U.S. lawyers and policymakers. This course offers an introduction to the Chinese legal system and a broader framework for analyzing how legal institutions function across different political and social contexts. The first half of the course will examine the institutional foundations of Chinese law. Topics include how law operates under the party-state, how disputes are resolved within and outside the courts, the dynamics of central-local relations, and the interplay between the state and markets. The second half turns to a set of shared challenges confronting both China and other jurisdictions, including technology governance, public safety, and the future of the legal profession. Throughout, we ask how the Chinese legal system compares with others in confronting these challenges, and what those comparisons reveal about law's relationship to politics and society. The course will conclude by examining the transnational dimensions of Chinese law, including Chinese parties in U.S. litigation and China's impact on global legal order. On selected topics, we will bring in leading scholars and practitioners to discuss their research and practice. Course materials will consist primarily of scholarly articles, supplemented by selected materials such as statutes and judicial decisions. All materials will be in English; translations will be provided where necessary. No prior familiarity with China or Chinese is required. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, short reflection papers.
2 units · Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
China has become increasingly central to global technological competition and geopolitical tensions, yet Chinese law and governance remain opaque to most U.S. lawyers and policymakers. This course offers an introduction to the Chinese legal system and a broader framework for analyzing how legal institutions function across different political and social contexts. The first half of the course will examine the institutional foundations of Chinese law. Topics include how law operates under the party-state, how disputes are resolved within and outside the courts, the dynamics of central-local relations, and the interplay between the state and markets. The second half turns to a set of shared challenges confronting both China and other jurisdictions, including technology governance, public safety, and the future of the legal profession. Throughout, we ask how the Chinese legal system compares with others in confronting these challenges, and what those comparisons reveal about law's relationship to politics and society. The course will conclude by examining the transnational dimensions of Chinese law, including Chinese parties in U.S. litigation and China's impact on global legal order. On selected topics, we will bring in leading scholars and practitioners to discuss their research and practice. Course materials will consist primarily of scholarly articles, supplemented by selected materials such as statutes and judicial decisions. All materials will be in English; translations will be provided where necessary. No prior familiarity with China or Chinese is required. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, short reflection papers.
Offered in Spring 2027 at Stanford University.