KIN4350V – China – Features of A New Geopolitical Power
Course description
Course content
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has risen to global power status over the past two decades. This rise is not only noticeable in the classic areas of geopolitics, which typically include diplomatic strategies, territorial claims, and military buildup. China is, for example, also a linchpin of global trade flows and supply chains, creates world-leading capacities in science and high-tech applications, and invests in the building of logistical and commercial infrastructure on all continents. While Chinese activities and influence around the globe are increasingly met with skepticism or even opposition in Northern-America and most of Europe, partnerships and collaboration with entities from the PRC are often welcomed and desired in other regions of the world. Altogether, it has therefore become essential to understand the many features of China’s geopolitical rise, as well as the effects this has on other countries and, in turn, on China itself.
On the basis of the lecturers’ cutting-edge empirical research and a selection of topical academic texts, this course will build knowledge about China’s status and orientation in global politics. Classes will deal with concrete areas, institutions, and actor constellations in which we can observe Chinese geopolitics. Attention will be paid to how China shapes and is in turn shaped by its geopolitical activities. Course participants will be able to expand on the course content via case discussions and a term paper. Furthermore, at the example of the Chinese case, classes will foster a critical discussion of concepts commonly used to describe types and tools of modern geopolitics, such as "neo-imperialism", "soft power", or "techno-nationalism". ?
The course will be of special interest for professionals in fields such as public administration and government (especially foreign politics and diplomacy); secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and adult learning; advisory organizations and think tanks; journalism and media; civil society organizations. Participants will be expected to prepare the selected readings in English for each session and to actively participate in class activities. The course is designed to incorporate current developments into class discussions and can accommodate, to a certain extent, participants’ thematic interests, which will be explored at the first meeting. Chinese language skills are not required.?
Learning outcome
You?will gain:
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Basic knowledge of China’s current global role and the impact of its geopolitics on different world regions
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Access to innovative social science and humanities-based approaches to studying geopolitics in the 21st century
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Insights into different areas of relevance for China’s global integration and geopolitical activity
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The ability to include different perspectives in an interpretation of current dynamics in world politics
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Skills in communicating about China’s global role to a broader audience
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The ability to contextualize information from today’s highly dynamic news circles about geopolitical developments related to China
Admission to the course
The course is at master's level. You must document a university or college education equivalent to a bachelor's degree/cand.mag, ideally in the social science or humanities.
You apply for the course in EVUWeb. Further information about the application process for spring 2026 and the application deadline will be posted when this is ready.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Bachelor's degree/cand.mag.
Recommended previous knowledge
English reading and speaking skills are necessary for following the classes.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KIN4350 – China – Features of A New Geopolitical Power.
Teaching
The course is made up of twelve live sessions à two hours, arranged as intensive phases over the course of the semester. The teaching will be at daytime located in a classroom at Blindern. Further information about the time and place will come.
Teaching units usually consist of short lectures by a local or invited instructors combined with seminar discussions, and sometimes project work and group discussions, and other teaching and exchange formats.?Each session is accompanied by selected readings that participants prepare in advance.
Compulsory activities:
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Paper outline?
As the compulsory activity in this course, participants will prepare an outline of the term paper that they briefly present in class and that will be "peer reviewed" by fellow participants and commented on by the course teacher.
An approved outline is only valid for one semester. You will find more information about the requirements for the compulsory assignment(s) and the submission deadline in Canvas.?
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.?
Absence from compulsory activities:?
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
Examination
The exam is a term paper of 10-12 pages (or approximately 4,000 words). One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count. The term paper must be on a topic of your own choice from the course programme.
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.?You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.?
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.