The ANGER project examines how authoritarian states—particularly China—use the public expression of anger as a strategic instrument in foreign policy. Rather than viewing diplomacy as neutral and emotionless, the project demonstrates how emotions and emotional outbursts can function as forms of pressure, signal red lines, and ultimately serve as attempts to influence the behavior of others.
The project uses the concept of anger diplomacy to describe situations in which Chinese diplomats, state media, or other official actors express resentment, offense, or moral indignation toward other states, institutions, companies, or individuals. Such expressions are increasingly common in traditional diplomacy, but also appear in newer arenas of diplomatic engagement, including international sport, academia, media, and business.
Through the mapping of such episodes, detailed case studies, and interviews with decision-makers and experts, ANGER analyzes how democratic countries respond to emotional politics. The findings show that responses vary considerably, depending on domestic political factors, economic dependencies, security considerations, and historical experiences with China.
A central finding is that authoritarian regimes do not merely react to liberal norms, but actively seek to appropriate and reshape them. By using anger as a diplomatic tool, authoritarian regimes can shift the boundaries of what is perceived as legitimate criticism and acceptable behavior in international politics. Identity, historical experiences, and post-colonial narratives play an important role in this process.
The ANGER project contributes both theoretically and empirically to the understanding of the role emotions play in international politics. At the same time, the research has clear societal relevance. Knowledge of anger diplomacy is useful for Norwegian authorities, institutions, and organizations operating internationally, where political pressure increasingly takes emotional forms. The project thus provides a foundation for understanding and managing tactics and influence employed by authoritarian states.
ANGER has produced academic impact through three main research outcomes. First, the project has developed a systematic explanation of anger diplomacy by advancing and applying the emerging literature on emotions in International Relations. It demonstrates how anger functions as a strategic diplomatic practice rather than a merely reactive phenomenon, thereby contributing conceptually to debates on power, norm contestation, and authoritarian influence in global politics.
Second, the project has generated new empirical knowledge through comparative case studies and interview-based research covering a range of national and regional contexts. These empirical materials document how anger diplomacy is deployed by China and how liberal democracies respond under different political, economic, and institutional conditions. Several of these findings are already reflected in peer-reviewed publications, with additional outputs forthcoming.
Third, ANGER has strengthened the Norwegian research community’s substantive expertise and international networks on China, authoritarian diplomacy, and emotions in world politics. Through collaboration with leading international scholars, support for early-career researchers, and active participation in international conferences and workshops, the project has enhanced Norway’s visibility and competence in this research field.
The project’s impact extends beyond academia. By advancing scholarly debate on emotions in global politics and providing empirically grounded analysis of anger diplomacy, ANGER contributes to more informed discussions about how authoritarian states seek to influence international norms and behaviour. Through public seminars, media contributions, and engagement with policy-relevant audiences, the project has raised awareness of these dynamics in the Norwegian political and public sphere.
In the longer term, the project’s results provide a stronger analytical basis for Norwegian policy on relations with China and other authoritarian states. By clarifying the mechanisms and effects of anger diplomacy, ANGER offers insights that can support more coherent responses by public authorities and institutions. The project’s findings are also relevant for Norwegian companies and organisations operating internationally, as they highlight potential political and reputational risks arising from emotionally charged diplomatic pressure and provide tools for better risk awareness and mitigation.
Do liberal-democratic states yield to public criticism by China? ANGER approaches this question by focusing on China's use of "anger diplomacy" - public, vehement displays at the state level in response to a perceived offense. Drawing on the literature of emotions in international relations, ANGER will explain when and how such diplomacy may boost or undercut China's international influence. With a strong team combining area-expertise with theoretical innovation, the project will systematically map episodes of Chinese anger, and conduct comparative analysis of the effects of Chinese anger diplomacy directed against state and non-state actors. By assessing how state-society relations may explain variation in responses and effects of such diplomacy, ANGER seeks to identify causal mechanisms at work. The project will further contribute to broader debates about hegemony, power-political competition, and the rise of China.
