Del i serien Rethinking Asia and International Relations

China’s Relational Power in Central and Eastern Europe

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Lessons from the Czech Republic

Inbunden, Engelska, 2026

AvBartosz Kowalski,Filip Šebok

2 939 kr

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This book examines the rise and fall of Sino-Czech relations after 2012, which coincided with China’s outward political and economic expansion through the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of a global network of partnerships, including in Central and Eastern Europe. Drawing on relational theory rooted in the Chinese concept of guanxi, the authors analyze to what extent China was able to secure the compliance of the Czech Republic with its core interests.The volume extends the application of relationality beyond its conventional focus on China’s engagement with Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The key to understanding China’s approach to Central and Eastern Europe lies in the region's perceived peripherality in China’s intellectual and political tradition. By situating China’s approach within the broader context of relations with the Global South, the book sheds light on the instruments through which China consolidates its global position.It provides empirically grounded analysis for academics, policy analysts, and decision-makers seeking to better understand Sino-Czech relations, China’s policy towards Central and Eastern Europe, and patterns of China’s global engagement. It will also be of interest to students and scholars of International Relations, especially those engaged with non-Western IR theory.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2026-08-28
Mått156 x 234 x undefined mm
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
SerieRethinking Asia and International Relations
Antal sidor188
FörlagTaylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN9781041232858

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Bartosz Kowalski is an Associate Professor at the Department of Asian Studies of the University of Łódź, Poland. His research explores China’s foreign policy, particularly its engagement with Central and Eastern Europe and the Global South. He has published on China’s regional diplomacy in Central and Eastern Europe and Chinese ideological narratives. He is the co-author of China's Vertical Multilateralism and the Global South: Narratives, Networks, and Money (2025).Filip Šebok is a PhD researcher at the Department of Asian Studies, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic, and the Head of Prague Office at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS). He has published on China’s relations with Central and Eastern Europe, particularly with the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Introduction: Sino-Czech Relational Shift in Context Chapter 1 Relational Theorizing with Chinese Characteristics Chapter 2 Between Global South and the West: Central and Eastern Europe as a Relational Partner of China Chapter 3 Relational Turn in Sino-Czech Relations Chapter 4 Defending China's Core Interests: Mixed Responses in the Czech Republic Chapter 5 Reversing Course: The Unraveling of China’s Relational Approach Conclusions: Limits of China’s Relational Power

"This is a superb book on the China-Czech Republic relationship – but it is also much more than that. While the book offers a detailed analysis of the bilateral relationship, it also situates the Czech-China link within the broader context of China’s foreign policy towards Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Global South, aptly identifying CEE's ‘peripheral’ position in Chinese political thinking. The Czech Republic is a great case to study the ups and downs of China’s relations with post-communist countries in the CEE region over the previous decade, full of interesting examples of the evolving roles of ideology, historical memory, economic exchanges, and strategic considerations.The rich empirical analysis is well grounded in the relational theory rooted in the Chinese concept of guanxi, making this also a worthy contribution to the theoretical discussions."- Richard Turcsányi, Palacký University Olomouc & Central European Institute of Asian Studies"Sharp, original, and deeply informed, this book offers the most rigorous account yet of how China’s relational power operates in practice and where it fails. Rich in empirical detail and theoretically innovative, this landmark study is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand China’s engagement with Central and Eastern Europe and the wider reordering of global politics."- Emilian Kavalski, Tampere University