A major new textbook on relations between the EU and China, co-authored by Thomas Christiansen, Emil Kirchner (Essex University) and Uwe Wissenbach (EEAS) has just been published by Palgrave Macmillan in their European Union book series. This accessible text offers a comprehensive analysis of one of the most important relationships in global politics today.
Both China and the EU are major players on the world stage, accounting for 30% of trade and nearly a quarter of the world’s population. This text shows how, despite many differences in political systems and values, China and the EU have developed such a close, regular set of interactions at multiple levels: from political-strategic, to economic, and individual.
The authors start with an historical overview of the domestic politics and foreign policy apparatus of each partner to show the context in which external relations are devised. From this foundation, each key dimension of the relationship is analysed, from trade and monetary policy, security, culture and society. The authors show the relative merits of different theoretical perspectives and outline what is next for this complex, ever-changing relationship. At every step, the success of each partner in persuading the other of changing their position(s) for key strategic interests is explored. What emerges is a multifaceted picture of relations between two sides that are fundamentally different kinds of actors in the international system, yet have many mutual interests and a common stake in the stability of global governance.
The first major text to offer an accessible introduction to the multifaceted nature of EU-China relations, this book is an ideal companion for upper undergraduate and postgraduate students on Politics, International Relations and European Studies courses.
The authors have presented key insights from their work at book launches in Brussels and Berlin, and have also been invited to the European External Action Service to brief officials in the East Asia Division on their findings.
