China - Dancing with the Dragon

China currently seems to be omnipresent and is shaping numerous topics, problems and social discourses. As China’s economy has grown stronger over the past 30 years, so has its political self-confidence. China is increasingly vigorously defending its own interests and claims on the world political stage. This leads to growing tensions both with neighboring states in the Indo-Pacific region and with the West, with which there is increasing socioeconomic and political system competition, as postulated by both sides. At the same time, due to China’s size and population as well as international economic interdependence, global crises and challenges such as climate change can only be successfully addressed in cooperation with China.

In the lectures of this course we will take a closer look at China’s traditions and values, but also at its politics and economy. We will address current issues such as the new Silk Road, environmental protection, ongoing trade disputes or the human rights situation, which is worth discussing, but we will also look at RWTH’s long-standing ties with China. For example, RWTH has a double master’s program with the elite Chinese university Tsinghua University in Beijing and a joint research laboratory. The more than 2800 Chinese students make up by far the largest group among international students at RWTH Aachen University. The series of events will also offer the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts on the individual topics through various guest lectures, so that student contributions are always possible and welcome.