Aalborg University invites proposals for presentations at the Conference - Probing China’s Way Forward in An Era of Uncertainties and Disorder – which is to be held on November 10 at Aalborg University. It is the third in a series of conferences addressing China affairs from Danish, European and international perspectives. The conference intends to gather researchers, academics, policymakers, and postgraduate students in Denmark to share their China-related expertise, debate important issues, and discuss the challenges and implications for Denmark and beyond.

The war in Ukraine has meant that the world is seemingly entering into an era of disorder characterized by great power rivalry and realpolitik. The Ukraine crisis has brought war back to Europe again, and it is, in all its dimensions, producing alarming cascading effects to a world economy already battered by COVID-19. China-Russia’s de facto alliance and China’s ambivalent   position on the war has added a shadow to the already weakened relationship with the EU and has intensified its competition with the US. International media and commentators are also beginning to draw the geopolitical similarities between Ukraine and Taiwan, creating further fears and uncertainties. All these problems and challenges, are all linked in one way or another with the ongoing comprehensive geopolitical rivalry between China and the US. These broad global developments have brought about actual imperativeness and impetus to the significance of the conference.

Domestically, many of China’s socio-economic and socio-political issues discussed in the 2021 network conference at DIIS – “Economic restructuring for improving efficiency and sustainability, technological advancement, the relationship between the public and private sectors, regional and societal inequality, an ageing society, and Party-society relations in the age of diversity and digitalization” – still remain China’s serious challenges. In addition, COVID-19 continues to have a big impact on China’s economy amid its external great power competition. Controversies on Beijing’s zero-Covid policy are becoming a force for division and disagreement both at the internal and external levels. Currently, one of the central schemes in Beijing’s political agenda is “common prosperity”, which involves delicate and complicated relationships between wealth redistribution mechanisms and China’s private sectors and transnational companies.

The conference organizer invites proposals for presentations that contribute to discussions of the above themes. We welcome contributions on a variety of themes, for instance:  

1. China’s domestic politics and governance
2. China’s socio-cultural and demographic challenges and changes
3. China’s environmental sustainability and climate governance
4. China’s economic development, market performance and international business
5. China’s technological development and socio-political impact
6. The role of history, religion, and culture in contemporary China affairs
7. China’s foreign policy, international and transnational relations
8. Pandemic cooperation with China in research, education, and business

Program

Practical info:

If you wish to present a paper at the conference, please send a short abstract of 250 words including a title of the presentation and a short personal biography to: DaCC2022@conference.aau.dk

Deadline: September 16, 2022

The organizers will cover two nights at a hotel in Aalborg, a train ticket, and meals during the conference for paper presenters.

It is also possible to participate in the conference without presenting a paper. All participants need to register before November 1.

Please register for the conference

If you have any questions, please send us an email: DaCC2022@conference.aau.dk

Important dates:

• Deadline for abstract submission: September 16
• Acceptance deadline: October 1, 2022
• Conference date: November 10, 2022, 9:00 – 18:00 + conference dinner in the evening