The aim of the course is to present and analyse the development of relations of Central European countries with China, with special emphasis on their economic and political aspects. Since 2010s, China has become strongly present in public discourse and political and economic relations have become a priority for CEE countries with changing intensity, which had not been the case most of the 20th century. The course tracks this development, puts it into a regional and global context, and looks at the historical roots of the relationship. It analyses the development, aspires to give interpretations of the motivations of main actors and introduces the most important features of Central Europe – China relations. It also asks students to critically assess the level and depth of these relations. Last but not least, the course uses the comparative perspective to show what CEE countries have in common in their relations with China and where they differentiate over time.
Last update: Kopecký Václav, M.A. (03.02.2025)
Aim of the course
* Understanding the contemporary and historical development of relations between Central European countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Germany) and PRC.
* Being able to compare the relations of various CEE countries with China and their underlying motivations.
* Getting a basic overview of China’s contemporary history, foreign policy and domestic development.
* Being able to understand the role of the Central European region for China and vice versa, and the Chinese foreign policy initiatives.
Last update: Kopecký Václav, M.A. (03.02.2025)
Course completion requirements
According to the Dean's provision, the teacher evaluates the student's performance in the percentages assigned to grades A to F (https://fsv.cuni.cz/opatreni-dekanky-c-20/2019):
90 % or more => A 80-89 % => B 70-79 % => C 60-69 % => D 50-59 % => E 0-49 % => F
Last update: Tomečková Jiřina, Mgr. (13.02.2023)
Literature
Lecture 1: Introduction No preliminary reading needed
Lecture 2: Modern Chinese History: A Crash Course Compulsory: William Callahan, “National Insecurities: Humiliation, Salvation, and Chinese Nationalism,” Alternatives, Vol. 29 2004, p.199-218.
Recommended: Timothy Cheek, “Mao, Revolution, and Memory,” in A Critical Introduction to Mao, 2010, pp 3-15 (but recommended also the rest of the chapter until page 30). For topics that will catch your interest, you can find some guidance in some of the books on modern Chinese history: Jonathan D. Spence, “The Search for Modern China,” 2012, New York: W.W. Norton & Company (particularly chapters 11, 19 and 22). John King Fairbank, “China: A New History,” 2016, New York: Belknap Press (Available also in Czech). Philip Short, “Mao: The Man Who Made China,” 2017, London and New York: IB Taurus. (Available also in Czech).
Lecture 3: China after Mao Compulsory: David M. Lampton, “Following the Leader: Ruling China from Deng Xiaoping to Xi Jinping,” 2014, University of California Press, Berkley, London, Chapter 1: Evolution in the Revolution, pp 13-44.
Recommended: Tony Saich, “Governance and Politics of China,” 2010, Hampshire and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, Chapter 3 (China Under Reform 1978-2003) Jonathan Fenby, “The Penguin History of Modern China,” 2008, London: Penguin Group (particularly chapters 27, 29, and 31).
Lecture 4: China’s Foreign Policy and China in 2010s and later Compulsory: Elizabeth C. Economy, “The Third Revolution: Xi Jinping and the New Chinese State,” 2018, Oxford University Press, New York, Introduction, pp. 1-19. Yu Jie and Lucy Ridout, “Who decides China’s foreign policy? The role of central government, provincial-level authorities and state-owned enterprises,” Briefing Paper, Chatham House, November 2021. Nadia Clark, “The Rise and Fall of the BRI,” Council on Foreign Relations, April 6, 2023- Available at: https://www.cfr.org/blog/rise-and-fall-bri
Gerry Groot, “The Rise and Rise of the United Front Work Department under Xi,” China Brief, Vol. 18(7), April 24, 2018. Lecture 5: China and CEE countries: Historical perspective Compulsory: Danhua Li and Yafeng Xia, “Jockeying for Leadership: Mao and the Sino-Soviet Split, October 1961-1964.” Journal of Cold War Studies, Winter 2014, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp-24-60.
Recommended: Rudolf Fürst and Gabriela Pleschová, “Czech and Slovak Relations with China: Contenders for China’s Favour. Europe-Asia Studies, 62:8, 2010, pp. 1363-1366.
Recommended: Andreas Fulda, “Germany’s China Policy of ‘Change Through Trade’ Has Failed”, June 1, 2020, RUSI
Lecture 7: Slovakia and China Compulsory:
Justyna Szczudlik, “Seven Years of the 16+1: An Assessment of China’s ‘Multilateral Bilateralism’ in Central Europe”, Asie.Visions, No. 107, Ifri., April 2019, pp. 6-15. Gabriela Pleschová and Richard Turscányi, “Slovakia: A Country between East and West” in Mario Esteban and Miguel Otero-Iglesias: “Europe in the Face of US-China Rivalry”, ETNC, January 2020, pp. 147-154. Richard Turscányi and Matej Šimalčík, “Slovak Policy Towards China is Built on Empty Words,” October 4, 2018. Available at https://www.thenewfederalist.eu/slovak-policy-towards-china-is-built-on-empty-words
Recommended: Barbara Kelemen et. al. “Slovakia and China: Challenges to the Future of the Relationship”, 2020, Central European Institute of Asian Studies.
Lecture 8: Hungary and China
Compulsory: Tamas Matura, “Absent political values in a pragmatic Hungarian China policy,” in Tim Nicholas Rühlig et. al. Political values in Europe-China relations, 2018, pp. 47-50. Vörös Zoltán, “Who Benefits from the Chinese-Built Hungary-Serbia Railway?” The Diplomat, January 4, 2018. Available at https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/who-benefits-from-the-chinese-built-hungary-serbia-railway/ Tamas Matura, “Chinese Investment in Hungary: Few Results but Great Expectations,” in Seaman John, Mikko Huotari and Miguel Otero-Iglesias, 2017, Chinese Investment in Europe: A Country-Level Approach, pp. 75-79 Réka Koleszár, “Hungary-China Relations: Is it Time for a Change?,” October 28, 2021, Choice, Available at: https://chinaobservers.eu/hungary-china-relations-is-it-time-for-a-change/
Compulsory: Lukasz Sarek, “The 16+1 Initiative and Poland’s Disengagement from China,” 2019, China Brief, Vol. 19, Issue 4, Jamestown Foundation. Justyna Szczudlik, “Poland-China Relations: from Enthusiasm to Caution? A Polish perspective,” 2018, Unpublished manuscript. Lunting Wu and Kamil Matusiewicz, “China-Poland Relations amid the Ukraine War,” The Diplomat, October 13, 2022. Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2022/10/china-poland-relations-amid-the-ukraine-war/
Recommended: Patrycja Pendrakowska, “Poland’s perspective on the Belt and Road Initiative”, 2018, Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies, 7:2, 190-206. Justyna Szczudlik, “Poland’s Measured Approach to Chinese Investments,” in Seaman John, Mikko Huotari and Miguel Otero-Iglesias, Chinese Investment in Europe: A Country-Level Perspective, 2017, pp. 109-115.
Lecture 11: Conclusion and comparative analysis of V4 region
Compulsory: Richard Q. Turcsányi, “China and the Frustrated Region: Central and Eastern Europe’s Repeating Troubles with Great Powers,” China Report 15, 1, 2020.
Recommended: Matej Šimalčík (ed.), “Perception on China among V4 Political Elites,” CEIAS, 2019 (parts you are interested in) Ivana Karásková (ed.), “Empty Shell no More: China’s Growing Footprint in Central and Eastern Europe,” CHOICE, April 2020. (pp. 14-56)
Last update: Kopecký Václav, M.A. (19.02.2025)
Teaching methods
The course is taught as a mixture of a lecture and a seminar. Analytical and comparative methods are used. Students receive compulsory and recommended reading for each class and are encouraged to participate in the debate among themselves and with the lecturer who introduces the main concepts in the lecture. Students are also asked to prepare a presentation on relevant topics. Special emphasis is also given to case studies of important features of the CEE-China relations.
Last update: Kopecký Václav, M.A. (03.02.2025)
Requirements to the exam
* Course taught in English
* No prior knowledge of China is required
* Student’s presentation during the semester
* Active participation over the course
* Final essay and its defence
The composition of the mark:
Presence and activity in the course: 20%
Presentation: 30%
Final paper and its defence: 50%
Grading scale: (A) excellent 100-90%, (B) very good 89-80%, (C) good 79-70%, (D) fair 69-60, (E) satisfactory 59-50, (F) unsatisfactory < 50
Last update: Kopecký Václav, M.A. (03.02.2025)
Syllabus
Lecture 1: Introduction Course Outline & Requirements Contemporary China and why we should study it Short quiz on China and CEE Debate on China’s role and influence in Europe Introduction to modern Chinese History
Lecture 2: Modern Chinese History: A Crash Course Chinese Empire and its key concepts Creation of the Republic of China Civil War China in the Second World War The Establishment of People’s Republic of China and early years ‘ Great Leap Forward Cultural Revolution End of Mao’s Era
Lecture 3: China after Mao Deng Xiaoping and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics The Reform Era and the changes within the system China’s Economic Model Human rights movement in China Tian-an-men Massacre and Survival of the Regime Growing power in the 1990s and 2000s Second term of Hu Jintao and Wen Jiapao and their reforms and foreign policy initiatives
Lecture 4: China’s Foreign Policy and China in 2010s and later Basics of the Chinese domestic political system Development of China’s foreign principles under Mao, Deng and Xi Current foreign policy objectives and tools The functioning of the foreign policy system Xi Jinping Coming to Power - domestic development and the international stage United Front Theory Belt and Road Initiative
Lecture 5: China and CEE countries: Historical perspective Sino-Soviet relations and their impact on Sino-CEE relations China and CEE during the Cold War China and Germany before unification China and the EU
Lecture 6: Germany and China Current state of relations – Germany under Olaf Scholz Crucial Trading Partners and Strategic Partnership Germany and China in 1990s and onwards. Development aid and human rights Gerhard Schröder and Change Through Trade Angela Merkel and Germany as the most important partner of China in the EU German praise and criticism of China and the impact on EU policies Economic Relations analysis: investments, exports, imports and other forms of cooperation
Lecture 7: Slovakia and China 16+1 and Central Europe Lack of interest and its results vs. renewed interest Political continuity and its impact on economic relations China’s economic and political presence Case study: What is the impact of the lack of interest?
Lecture 8: Hungary and China Viktor Orban and political relations: concept of illiberal democracy, domestic and international politics Traditional Chinese partner in V4 Start of intensive relations - 2000s Economic Relations analysis: investments, exports, imports and other forms of cooperation Case study: BRI - Budapest-Belgrade Railway Case study: Connection between political and economic relations
Lecture 9: Poland and China Poland between Washington, Brussels, and Beijing. Promises, scepticism and comeback. Echoes from the past - Polish economic transformation and lessons for China Poland as the frontrunner in relations with China yet many obstacles hindering the overall development Economic Relations analysis: investments, exports, imports and other forms of cooperation Case studies: Chinese companies and highways in Poland, Poland’s triangle relationship with China, Russia, and the U.S.
Lecture 10: The Czech Republic and China Dramatic development of relations: actors, values, interests and motivations. Václav Havel and relations with China, specific relations with Taiwan Shift towards “pragmatism” Changes of economic and political relations Economic Relations analysis: investments, exports, imports and other forms of cooperation Case study: Human rights and China Lecture 11: Comparative analysis of V4 region Chinese regional initiatives Strength and weaknesses of V4 countries and their economic and political relations with China Role of Germany in the region vis-à-vis China Political influence, economic challenges and/or benefits, technological debate
