In the wake of the seeming decline of Western democracy, partly due to the global financial crisis, partly due to its failed global strategy, the modern authoritarianism represented by China is surging, not only economically, but also politically. This course will look at Chinese authoritarianism in a comprehensive fashion. After discussing its origins in both ancient China and the Soviet Union, the course will then focus on today’s authoritarianism in different fields such as the China’s government, fiscal management, economic and technological strategy, the relations between the state and the society, and finally China’s global expansion. Comparisons between China and Russia will also be conducted. In addition to empirical observations, theoretical deliberation will also be an important part of the course. Students of this course will learn how to conduct analysis of contemporary Chinese politics in a framework of comparative politics. Students will be trained to forecast some possible trends regarding global political development with focus on China. The course is designed for both undergraduates and graduates.