Arrangement

Analysts of today’s great power rivalry tend to focus on the People’s Republic of China’s quest for regional hegemony, its territorial claims, and its growing military buildup, as well as its dynamically emerging political role on the global stage. But China is also a linchpin of global trade flows and supply chains, creates world-leading capabilities in science and high-tech applications, and invests in logistical and commercial infrastructure on every continent. In addition, the world’s largest autocracy is fostering alliances and building new institutions that may increasingly challenge the global governance order of the 20th and early 21st centuries. While some regions, particularly in North America and much of Europe, respond to China’s growing global presence with skepticism or opposition, other parts of the world often (and increasingly) seek partnerships and cooperation with Chinese entities.

Using a broad definition of “geopolitics/geopolitical”, we will discuss and expand upon the classical European or North American perspectives on these issues, and include new methodological approaches such as “Global China” to capture the multiple dimensions, layers, and agents of current developments. In line with all these objectives, the course is designed to rely heavily on participants' own research. A particular aim is to incorporate multidisciplinary perspectives from and about a wide range of countries, regions, and other collectivities into analyses and discussions of China’s global role.

The course will provide an exciting space for in-depth presentations and discussions of participants’ research on China’s multifaceted impact on the global stage and the various and complex elements of international power dynamics involved. Guest lectures and a local excursion will round off the program. In addition, a special section of the course will be devoted to discussing practical challenges in our field of research.

The course is primarily intended for PhD students in the social sciences and humanities (including but not limited to China studies, political science, sociology, human geography, contemporary history, etc.), but is open to participants from any academic discipline and field whose work can enrich our discussions.

This PhD course is a collaboration between the China Studies section of the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (IKOS) at the University of Oslo and the Norwegian Research Centre on Geopolitics – a research network headed by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and funded by the Norwegian Research Council. 

Practical information

• Working language: English
• Maximum number of participants: 12. If the number of submissions exceeds the number of slots available, a selection will be made based on the quality and thematic fit of the application and abstracts. 
• Fee: There is no course/tuition fee.
• The intensive 3-day program will consist of paper presentations from PhD Fellows (20-minute presentation, 25-minute discussion), inputs by invited speakers, discussions of texts from the reading list, and a short excursion.
• Preliminary information on credits: 3/5 ECTS. Participation, paper drafting and presentation, and reading preparation will result in 3 ECTS. Submitting an edited version of the paper (around 10 pages, à 4,000 words) after the seminar will yield an additional 2 ECTS.
• Meals: Coffee, fruits, and lunch will be provided every day.
• Travel and accommodation: PhD Fellows are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. A few travel stipends are available for participants from ODA-countries; please indicate that you would like to apply for this support in your application.
• Reading list: Reading materials will be made available two month before the seminar.
• Open and closed sections: The methodologically oriented presentations and lectures will be open to participants beyond the PhD course (e.g. students and researchers from IKOS/UiO). The paper discussion sections of the seminar and the excursion will be closed.

How do I sign up for the course

If you would like to participate in the PhD course, please submit a short abstract of your paper (max. 300 words).

Apply by sending your abstract and a short CV to the main convenor, Professor II Anna L. Ahlers: a.l.ahlers@ikos.uio.no. 

Deadline for application as participant: 25 March 2025

Later applications will also be considered.

Other researchers interested in attending the public parts of the course are encouraged to get in touch via e-mail and will receive program updates and more information later.

Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance by the end of March 2025

Deadline for submission of final paper: 25 May 2025

After this date, papers will be made available to all participants and discussants.

Preliminary program

Day 1:

I. What is Geopolitics? Theoretical and Conceptual Approaches

Guest Lecture

II. China as a Geopolitical Power

Spotlights on Aspects and Sites of China's Geopolitics - Paper presentations 1

Guest Lecture

Day 2:

Spotlights on Aspects and Sites of China's Geopolitics - Paper presentations 2

Guest Lecture

Excursion: Site(s) of China’s ‘Geopolitical power’ in Oslo (tbc)

Day 3:

Spotlights on Aspects and Sites of China's Geopolitics - Paper presentations 3

III. Methodological Challenges against the Backdrop of Turbulent Geopolitics

IV. Insights, Synergies and Outlook

Organizer

Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Norwegian Centre for Geopolitics