China’s Relational Power in Central and Eastern Europe
Lessons from the Czech Republic
Bartosz Kowalski author Filip Šebok author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publishing:24th Aug '26
£171.99
This title is due to be published on 24th August, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
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 (CEE). 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 CEE 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 toward CEE, and patterns of China’s global engagement. It will also be of interest to students and scholars of International Relations (IR), especially those engaged with non-Western IR theory.
"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
ISBN: 9781041232858
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 500g
170 pages