This weekly digest is a collection of news, upcoming events and other opportunities from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Lund University and the wider area, compiled by Graduate School students.
- Fragmented Power : The Reception of China’s Foreign Policy Strategies in Sri Lanka
- EU Days Lund
- In the MOOD for Climate Action
- SASNET Travel Grants & Best South Asia Thesis Award
Fragmented Power : The Reception of China’s Foreign Policy Strategies in Sri Lanka
PhD Thesis Defense
Author: Tabita Rosendal Ebbesen
Summary, in English
This dissertation proposes a theory concerning China’s “Fragmented Power” in its foreign policy pursuits by analyzing the reception of the “Belt and Road” Initiative in Sri Lanka. The initiative has sparked intense debates and counteractions on the global stage and has become synonymous with Xi Jinping’s assertive approach to foreign policy. However, many aspects of the initiative’s goals, implementation, and host country reception have remained underexplored in the academic literature. Through four interrelated and mutually complementary articles, as well as an introductory chapter that ties these efforts together, this dissertation offers novel insights into China’s multifaceted foreign policy strategies, actors, practices, and the perceptions of these engagements among Sri Lankans across various societal strata.
Article 1 examines China’s utilization of Buddhist strategic narratives to facilitate the smooth implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative in Sri Lanka, a Buddhist-majority country. Article 2 dives into the case of the Hambantota International Port project, where the interests and efforts of the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese state-owned enterprises, and the Sri Lankan government have converged and diverged in manifold ways. Article 3 illuminates the reception of China’s political and economic efforts among Sri Lankans against the backdrop of regional great power competition, highlighting the limitations of China’s current strategy. Finally, article 4 analyzes the increased party-to-party relations between the Chinese Communist Party and various Sri Lankan parties, including China’s role as a regional “Authoritarian Gravity Center.”
Together, the dissertation contributes to several important, emerging bodies of scholarship on the linkages between Chinese domestic and foreign policy practices, including the adverse effects that this decentralization can bring, China’s increasing use of religious and party diplomacy, the strategic use of narratives, and the importance of contextualized, “bottom-up” analyses showcasing local voices. Consequently, the dissertation also highlights the permeability of China’s international engagements and presence – which can be referred to as “Global China” – by presenting insights on host country agency in the face of its “Fragmented Power.”
Date and time: 3 June 2025 13:00 to 15:00
Location: LUX C121, Helgonavägen 3, 223 62 Lund
For more information, visit this page
EU Days Lund
Forum
EU Days Lund is the main Swedish annual EU forum gathering around 500 Swedish and international high-level speakers and participants.
On September 23–24, 2025, EU Days Lund will be held for the fifth time. It is the leading national arena for discussing EU-related issues. This year’s edition will focus on Sweden’s 30-year membership in the EU, the 25th anniversary of the Öresund Bridge, and highly relevant topics such as:
Europe in the world and EU enlargement
- a new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity
- a clean industrial future
- a thriving and competitive EU
- a new era for EU defense and security
Date and time: 23-24 September 2025
Location: The City Hall, Stortorget (9 minutes walk from Lund Central Station)
For more information, visit this page
In the MOOD for Climate Action
Opportunities
The Learning Planet Institute is launching its first Meaningful Open Opportunities for Discovery (MOOD) « In the MOOD for Climate Action » on June 9th. Focusing on climate change and sustainability, this 4-week climate fully funded pilot programme gives students the opportunity to tackle global challenges through real-world projects, and learning socio-emotional skills. Applications are now open.
The Learning Planet Institute is committed to help students better understand and face societal challenges in a rapidly changing world by using scalable experiential learning approaches. MOOD is one of them. Created by the Institute, as part of a United Nations University Hub for youth education, MOODs are immersive, certified learning journeys where students aged 18-25 explore their purpose while tackling global challenges through real-world projects, and learning socio-emotional skills. Through simulations and reflection, students explore their own values and purpose, learning to balance their personal needs with real-world problems.
« In the MOOD for Climate Action » is the first pilot, focusing on climate change and sustainability. Through this learning journey, the participants will :
- Gain clarity on your values and purpose while taking effective climate action
- Learn more on climate and sustainability
- Work in teams with peers from around the world
- Earn a university-level certificate
- Develop both systems thinking skills and personal confidence
- Join a global network of changemakers
Who can join?
Students aged 18-25 with:
- Stable internet connection for 2-3 hour video conferences
- At least 9 hours per week of time to dedicate to the program
- Fluent English for learning and collaboration
- Curiosity about climate action and personal growth
Date and time: June 9th – July 7th, 2025
Location: Online with live sessions
For more information, visit this page
SASNET Travel Grants & Best South Asia Thesis Award
Travel Grants and Thesis Award
SASNET is opening for travel grants and thesis award as follows:
- SASNET Travel Grants for Master Students at LU – New! South Asia Travel Grant for Master Students | Swedish South Asian Studies Network
- SASNET Travel Grants for Doctoral Students at LU South Asia Travel Grant for Doctoral Students | Swedish South Asian Studies Network
- Best South Asia Thesis Award 2024/2025 Best South Asia Thesis Award 2024/2025 | Swedish South Asian Studies Network