Relacyjność w stosunkach Chin z Europą Środkowo-Wschodnią. Przypadek Czech
China’s relational politics in Central and Eastern Europe. The case of the Czech Republic

Author(s): Bartosz Kowalski
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Political Sciences, Geopolitics
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: China’s foreign policy; Czech foreign policy; relationalism; Global South; China-Central Eastern Europe
Summary/Abstract: Applying relational theory, this book examines the case study of China’s relations with the Czech Republic to explain why China initially managed to build and then lost significant influence in the country. The author also presents the broader context of the changes that have taken place in China's relations with Central and Eastern European countries after 2012. The key element in understanding China’s relational approach to Central and Eastern Europe is the peripherality of the region in the perception of Chinese political elites and its inclusion to the net of China’s relations with developing countries (the Global South). Although Central and Eastern European countries have relatively little potential as economic partners for China, due to the presumably weak and exogenous nature of their democracy and the rule of law, they have been perceived as vulnerable to relational politics and building support for the Chinese political agenda. The author argues that the perception of the region as a peripheral area influences the foreign policy tools (including informality and elite capture) and political economy used by China towards developing countries.

• Details
• Contents