This course uses energy as a window to look at how the Chinese political system tackles complex policy problems in the era of reform and globalization. It anatomizes the multiple dimensions of the energy challenges facing China, examines how its energy sectors respond to these challenges over time and how these sectors have evolved since the country launched opening up and economic reforms in 1978. It also explains the governing structures, institutions, and processes through which China governs its energy economy and makes its energy policies and decisions. Finally, it evaluates the system performance, system capacity, and system direction of the Chinese state by investigating how China confronts climate change and energy security challenges domestically and internationally. (This course is cross-listed with China Studies.)