Theo recently completed his PhD in Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield, where his research focused on China's role in promoting cyber norms and contesting 'Western' approaches to cyberspace governance. He holds BA and MA degrees in Economy and Politics of East Asia, Modern East Asian Studies, and Social Research from the Universities of Bochum, DuisburgEssen, and Sheffield. His broader academic interests include international relations, global governance, security studies, and Chinese foreign policy, with a particular focus on how these intersect with digital policy and global power dynamics. The talk provides an overview of China’s evolving role in global cyberspace governance, focusing on its efforts to challenge 'Western' norms and promote alternatives such as ‘cyberspace sovereignty’. The discussion will draw on China’s actions within key international organisations and frameworks, exploring how its relationships within these institutions shape its norm promotion activities. The talk will also reflect on broader challenges regarding research on China in the contemporary era.

More information can be found at theo_westphal_on.

For a Teams invite, please contact the easg@warwick.ac.uk