On 16–17 February 2026, the BCCN’s third Studying Global China Workshop will take place at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. It features Ching Kwan Lee as keynote speaker, Claus Soong (MERICS) on China global strategy in the Asia-Pacific, De:link/Re:link member John Njenga Karugia on transregional memory politics in the context of Africa-China relations, and Daniel Sprick on the legal dimensions of China’s engagement in Latin America.
The workshop, organised by the BCCN, is open to PhD students, postdocs, and other interested Berlin-based scholars.
Description
Studying global China presents unique challenges. For researchers trained in Sinology, engaging with China’s global entanglements calls for new methodological approaches. For those from other social science backgrounds, language barriers and limited historical or cultural knowledge can complicate research on China’s global influence. At the same time, scholars face increasing restrictions within the PRC and contentious debates in Western countries about the risks and benefits of academic cooperation.
The “Studying Global China” workshop offers a platform to explore these challenges, reflect on research approaches, and exchange fieldwork experiences. Connect with fellow scholars over coffee and snacks, listen to inspiring lectures on current issues, and learn with and from each other: Who is working on what? What are your fieldwork experiences? Join us for two days of debate and networking at Humboldt University Berlin!
This year’s workshop features Ching Kwan Lee as keynote speaker. Professor Lee teaches Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and is widely known for her book The Specter of Global China: Politics, Labor and Foreign Investment in Africa (2017). She currently edits the Cambridge Elements in Global China series and co-convenes the Global Hong Kong Studies @UC initiative.
In addition, on Monday, February 16th, there will be lectures by Claus Soong (MERICS), Daniel Sprick (Universität Köln) and John Njenga Karugia (Humboldt University Berlin). On February 17th, based on participants’ interests, there will be space for informal sessions on specific topics as well as a feedback session with C. K. Lee.
Date: 16-17 February 2026
Location: Department for East Asian Studies
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Johannisstr. 10, 10117 Berlin