Course directory

OAGR 2210 - The Geopolitics of Artificial intelligence: Sovereignty, Power, and the Future of World Order

OAGR 2210 · Spring semester 2025-2026

Language of tuition
English
Course type
Cours séminaire
Number of hours
24
Credits
6

Information

Description

***NEW COURSE***

This advanced seminar explores Artificial Intelligence as the central arena of 21st-century geopolitical competition. We will dissect how the global race for AI supremacy is reconfiguring state sovereignty, international power, and the fault lines of a new world order. Focusing on the current era of intense techno-nationalist rivalry, this course emphasizes diverse global perspectives. We will analyze the distinct strategic doctrines of major powers (U.S., China, EU) and the adaptive strategies of 'swing states' and middle powers (e.g., India, Brazil, African countries) as they navigate this competition. The seminar will also be enriched by guest interventions from practitioners and thinkers at the forefront of AI policy.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims to give students an in-depth understanding of:

  • The key concepts of geopolitics (sovereignty, power, influence, national interests, state and non-state actors, strategic resources) and their relevance in the AI field.
  • The drivers shaping the evolution of AI: research and innovation, digital infrastructures, semiconductors, energy, models, applications, policies and governance.
  • The underlying power dynamics and strategies of the main state / non-state actors.
  • The theoretical and empirical links between innovation, growth and development.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

  • Master methodologies to provide concise, effective advice (memos, oral briefs) on complex technical issues to high-level decision makers
  • Understand the dynamics of complex, multi-stakeholder negotiations
  • Develop critical thinking on / use of AI tools for research and communication

Prerequisites

.

Readings

Main readings 5

  1. 1. A fundamental read on geopolitics and AI: Henry KISSINGER, Eric SCHMIDT, Daniel HUTENLOCHER, The Age of AI, 2022

  2. 2. Chris MILLER, Chip War – The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology, 2022

  3. 3. Official reports and strategies: (see detailed list below)

  4. 4. Tech manifestos: Sam ALTMAN, The Gentle Singularity, 2025; Dario AMODEI, Machines of Loving Grace, 2024; Marc ANDREESEN, A Techno-optimist Manifesto, 2023; Leopold ASCHENBRENNER, Situational Awareness: The Decade Ahead in AI (2024).

  5. 5. Subscribe to at least 5 of the following tech/AI newsletters / sources: (see detailed list below)

Further readings 13

  1. (i) Bite-sized : X accounts of @andrewng, @demishassabis, @ylecun, @sama, @gdb ; Instagram accounts of @theaipage, @evolving.ai, @nvidiaai, @technology

  2. (ii) daily : Cyberscoop, Axios AI+, The Rundown AI (Rowan Cheung, most followed), Ben’s Bites (Ben Tossell, focused on use cases)

  3. (iii) weekly: Import AI (by Jack Clark, Anthropic) ; Stratechery (Ben Thompson, covering Big Tech); Not Boring (Packy McCormick – “deep dives” and business case studies)

  4. (iv) monthly: policy.ai (Georgetown, good read on US-China race)

  5. 6. Kai-Fu LEE, AI Superpowers, 2018

  6. 7. Giuliano DA EMPOLI (dir.) & al., L’Empire de l’ombre – guerre et terre au temps de l’IA, Le Grand Continent, 2025

  7. detailed list for 5. Subscribe to at least 5 of the following tech/AI newsletters / sources

  8. detailled list for 3. Official reports and strategies:

  9. i) The Draghi Report on European competitiveness (AI section): https://commission.europa.eu/topics/competitiveness/draghi-report_en

  10. ii) Final report of the United Nations’ High-Level Advisory Board on AI:https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/governing_ai_for_humanity_final_report_en.pdf

  11. iii) "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan": https://www.ai.gov/action-plan

    Read online

  12. iv) "China’s New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan" and "Global AI Governance Action Plan"

  13. v) Philippe AGHION, Anne BOUVEROT, IA: notre ambition pour la France, 2024

    Read online

Teaching units

Unit no.Unit type Teaching unitsTeachers Number of hoursCredits
59061Cours séminaire The Geopolitics of Artificial intelligence: Sovereignty, Power, and the Future of World Order Adrien ABECASSIS, Alexandre MIRLESSE246

Teachers

  • Adrien ABECASSIS
  • Alexandre MIRLESSE

In the curricula

Contacts and resources

Contact
YOUNÈS Myriam