My research interests are focused on China – both business and politics. Currently I work on China's emerging renewable energy sector. Earlier I have done research on China's market reforms and the gradual introduction of market economic principles.

My PhD project has the following working title: ‘The emergence of a new organisational field: The dynamic construction of China’s renewable energy sector’. Empirically this PhD takes it starting point in one of the most vibrant settings: the emergence of the renewable energy sector in China’s emerging economy. China's renewable energy sector is rapidly expanding. Strong political signalling from the Chinese government followed by heavy investments have within a very few years completely changed the prospects for the sector. In 2020 as much as 15 % of total energy production is projected to come from renewable sources compared to an existing share of 8 % in 2006. It is against this backdrop that this PhD project questions how such a swift and radical turn is possible? What drives the emergence of the renewable energy sector in China, what patterns of behaviour are being established and how are they shaping the trajectory for the future development of the sector? Theoretically this PhD project will be based on neoinstitutional theories (Meyer and Rowan 1977, DiMaggio and Powel 1983, 1991, Scott 1995). The point of rotation will be the concept of organisational fields, which has become a key concept within institutional theory. However, the institutional literature takes its starting point in the Western world where conditions for institution building and field formations are radically different. This project therefore aims at contributing to the theory building by scrutinizing the mechanisms of institutionalization in a very different context - an authoritarian country. Hence, the research agenda is guided by the question: What mechanisms of institutionalization are shaping an emerging organizational field in an authoritarian country?

Christensen, Nis Høyrup 2009, ‘Institutional Entrepreneurship and the Emergence of a Field: How the Party-State Shapes the Renewable Energy Sector in China.’ Paper presented at the 2009 NACS conference: ‘China’s Economy, Environment and Education,’ in Reykjavik.

Christensen, Nis Høyrup 2008, ‘In the Name of Science: How the Party-state Shapes the Science and Technology Turn in China’. Paper presented at the NIAS conference: ‘Asian Creativity in Culture and technology,’ in Trondheim.

Christensen, Nis Høyrup 2008, 'The Chinese Paradox: Integrating Socialism and the Market Economy' in Politik, no. 2, vol. 11, pp. 59-66.

Helgesen, Geir and Nis Høyrup Christensen (2007), ‘North Korea 2007: Assisting Development and Change’, NIAS report commissioned by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 90 p.

Christensen, Nis Høyrup and Geir Helgesen (2006), ‘A nuclear free Korean Peninsula: Six Parties - Zero trust’, NIAS Nytt, 2006:1.

Helgesen, Geir and Nis Høyrup Christensen (2004), ‘North Korea's economic, political and social situation’, NIAS report commissioned by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 63 p.

Brødsgaard, Kjeld Erik and Nis Høyrup Christensen (2004), ‘Sino - US Relations After September 11: Background and Prospects’, Daxiyangguo, 2004:4.

Christensen, Nis Høyrup and Ole Dahl Rasmussen (eds.) (2004), ‘Modernisering på kinesisk’, Politologiske studier, 6:2, 190 p.

Christensen, Nis Høyrup (2003), ‘Multilateralism and the Chinese Foreign and Trade policy’. Paper presented at the Nordic Association for China Studies conference, Oslo.

Brødsgaard, Kjeld Erik and Nis Høyrup Christensen (2002), ‘Vagtskifte i Kina - Konsekvenser og perspektiver’, Fokus, nr. 2002/6, DUPI.