The aim of the course is to present the development of relations of Central European countries with China, with special emphasis on their economic and political aspects. With exception of increasing level of imports, up until the 2010s, the People’s Republic of China kept a relatively low-profile in the region. Similarly, with the exception of Germany, Central European countries had only a limited presence in China. This changed rapidly in early 2010s when PRC started to be proactive internationally and its presence in the region increased visibly (in terms of diplomatic relations, political and economic activities, influence, as well as the growing interest of companies in penetrating respective markets and politicians in China as such). The course tracks this development since the establishment of PRC in 1949 with a particular interest in the contemporary era. 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 those 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.
Cíl předmětu - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Václav Kopecký (01.02.2021)
* Understanding historical development of relations of Central European countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Germany) with PRC
* Being able to compare the current state of relations of CEE countries with China
* Getting a basic overview of China’s foreign policy activities and domestic developments which are affecting it
* Being able to understand the role of the Central European region for China and vice versa
Literatura - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Václav Kopecký (12.02.2021)
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. 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).
Recommended: For topics which 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, EU and Central Europe Compulsory: Elizabeth C. Economy, “The Third Revolution: Xi Jinping and the New Chinese State,” 2018, Oxford University Press, New York, Introduction, pp. 1-19. Linda Jakobson and Ryan Manuel, “How Are Foreign Policy Decisions Made in China?,” Asia & The Pacific Policy Studies, Vol. 3(1), 2016, pp. 101-110. The Economist (July 26, 2018) China has a vastly ambitious plan to connect to the world. Available at: https://www.economist.com/briefing/2018/07/26/china-has-a-vastly-ambitious-plan-to-connect-the-world
Recommended: Marc Lanteigne, “Chinese Foreign Policy: An Introduction,” 2019, Oxon and New York: Routledge, Chapter 1 (Introduction: The Reconstruction of Chinese Foreign Policy), pp 1-26. Nadège Rolland, China’s Eurasian Century? Political and Strategic Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative, National Bureau of Asian Research, 2017, Ch. 3. Willy Lam Wo-Lap, “What is Xi Jinping’s Thought?,” September 21, 2017, Jamestown Foundation. Available at https://jamestown.org/program/what-is-xi-jinping-thought/
Recommended: Thornster Benner et. al., “Authoritarian Advance: Responding to China’s Growing Political Influence in Europe,” 2018, Global Public Policy Institute and Mercator Institute for China Studies, pp. 5-13
Lecture 6: Germany and China Compulsory: Hans Kundnani and Jonas Parello-Plesner, “China and Germany: Why the Emerging Special Relationship Matters for Europe,” ECFR, p. 1-9., 2012. Yasmin Samrai, “Trading with the frenemy: Germany’s China Policy,” October 30, 2019, European Council on Foreign Relations. Available at: https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_trading_with_the_frenemy_germanys_china_policy. Erika Solomon and Guy Chazan, “We need a real policy for China: Germany ponders post-Merkel shift”, Financial Times, January 6, 2021, available at: https://www.ft.com/content/0de447eb-999d-452f-a1c9-d235cc5ea6d9
Recommended: Christoph Schnellbach and Joyce Man, “Germany and China: Embracing a Different Kind of Partnership?” 2015, CAP Working Paper Jan Weidenfeld, “Germany: No Pivot to China” in Mario Esteban and Miguel Otero-Iglesias: “Europe in the Face of US-China Rivalry”, ETNC, January 2020, pp. 75-82. Andreas Fulda, “Germany’s China Policy of ‘Change Through Trade’ Has Failed”, June 1, 2020, RUSI
Lecture 7: 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
Lecture 8: Poland and China Compulsory: Justyna Szczudlik, “Poland: Maneuvering between the US and EU while not decoupling from China” in Mario Esteban and Miguel Otero-Iglesias: “Europe in the Face of US-China Rivalry”, ETNC, January 2020, pp. 75-82. 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.
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 10: Slovakia and China Compulsory: 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. Gabriela Pleschová, “Chinese Investment in Slovakia: The Tide May Come In” in Seaman John, Mikko Huotari and Miguel Otero-Iglesias (2017) Chinese Investment in Europe: A Country-Level Perspective, pp. 135-140. 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 11: Comparative analysis of V4 region Richard Q. Turcsányi, “China and the Frustrated Region: Central and Eastern Europe’s Repeating Troubles with Great Powers,” China Report 15, 1, 2020. Jacopo Maria Pepe, ”China’s Inroads into Central, Eastern, and South Eastern Europe: Implications for Germany and the EU”, DGAP, 2017.
Recommended: Ivana Karásková (ed.), “Empty Shell no More: China’s Growing Footprint in Central and Eastern Europe,” CHOICE, April 2020. Marcin Grabowski and Jakub Stefanowski, “The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative from the Central European Perspective – Rhetoric Versus Reality,” Stosunki Miedzynarodowe – International Relations, 54, 4, 2018.
Metody výuky - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Václav Kopecký (09.02.2021)
The course is taught as a mixture of a lecture and a seminar. 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.
Online on platform ZOOM:
https://cuni-cz.zoom.us/j/92897182531
Meeting ID: 928 9718 2531
Požadavky ke zkoušce - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Václav Kopecký (01.02.2021)
* Course taught in English
* No prior knowledge of China is required
* Student’s presentation during the semester
* Active participation over the course
* Final essay
The composition of the mark:
Presence and activity in the course: 20%
Presentation: 30%
Final paper: 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
Sylabus - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Václav Kopecký (12.02.2021)
Lecture 1: Introduction Course Outline & Requirements Contemporary China and why we should study it Debate on China’s role and influence in Europe Short quiz on China and CEE
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 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, EU and Central Europe Xi Jinping Coming to Power - domestic development and the international stage Development of China’s foreign principles under Mao, Deng and Xi Current foreign policy objectives and tools United Front Theory Belt and Road Initiative
Lecture 5: Europe and China EU-China relations and strategic dialogue Economic independence and interdependence Systemic rivalry and Comprehensive Investment Agreement Creation and development of 17+1 Framework China’s economic and political presence in CEE Region
Lecture 6: Germany and China Current state of relations – Germany on the crossroad German praise and criticism of China and the impact on EU policies – Comprehensive agreement on Investment, investment screening mechanism, 5G debate etc. Crucial Trading Partners and Strategic Partnership Reunification and building bridges 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 Post-Merkel era? Economic Relations analysis: investments, exports, imports and other forms of cooperation
Lecture 7: Hungary and China Viktor Orban and political relations: concept of illiberal democracy, domestic and international politics Traditional Chinese partner in V4 Echoes from the past - Relations with China in 50s and 60s New start of intensive relations - 2000s Economic Relations analysis: investments, exports, imports and other forms of cooperation Case study: BRI - Budapest-Belgrade Railway
Lecture 8: Poland and China Poland between Washington, Brussels, and Beijing. Promises and growing scepticism. 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, 5G development
Lecture 9: The Czech Republic and China Dramatic development of relations: actors, values, interests and motivations. Echoes from the past - Czechoslovakia and recognition of PRC and its economic support, Prague Spring. 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 Case study: Connection between political and economic relations
Lecture 10: Slovakia and China Lack of interest and its results Echoes from the past - Chinese perception of Czechoslovakian dissolution Political continuity and its impact on economic relations China’s economic and political presence in CEE Region Case study: What is the impact of the lack of interest?
Lecture 11: Comparative analysis of V4 region 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
Lecture 12: Conclusion Summary of key issues Discussion on the future of China in V4 + Germany region
