Overview

This book offers a sustained, historically grounded analysis of the identity factor in China-Europe relations. The identity of the modern Chinese state was forged in the context of European emissaries, gunboats, and books. The effects still shape China’s policies towards Europe today, as it becomes a focal point in the great power competition between the US and China. The author argues that identity dilemmas are central to Chinese Europe policies, both past and present. This is reflected in the two-pronged composition of the book; one historical section, combined and complemented with one contemporary section. Case studies of three key political flashpoints between the EU, individual European countries, and China over the last two decades, demonstrates the contemporary relevance of a set of identity issues whose deep roots are uncovered through analysing Chinese political texts from the preceding two centuries. Aimed primarily at scholars and students of Chinese and European international relations, this book will also be of interest to scholars of ontological security theory, constructivism, and other identity-driven approaches to international politics.

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9781032444024

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Reviews

""A ground breaking study that analyses how identity is an underlying driver of the evolving landscape in EU-China relations. Supported by an extensive bibliography, the book’s analysis blends conceptual thinking and empirical evidence in a nuanced way that offer valuable insights into contemporary Chinese foreign policy. A must-read for academics and practitioners alike."" - Paul Irwin Crookes, University of Oxford ""This new book by Dr Bjørnar Sverdrup-Thygeson is a ground breaking study that analyses how identity is an underlying driver of the evolving landscape in EU-China relations. In particular, the book traces a path that interconnects identity factors in both China and across Europe that fundamentally shape security perspectives of each side. Supported by an extensive bibliography, the book’s analysis blends conceptual thinking and empirical evidence in a nuanced way that is accessible to both the specialist and lay reader. The conclusions offer valuable insights into contemporary Chinese foreign policy that should be a must-read for academics and practitioners alike to better understand this key bilateral relationship."" - Paul Irwin Crookes, University of Oxford “There are many books on China these days but very few focus on the relations between China and Europe specifically, and even fewer study that relationship from a perspective that takes identity seriously. China and the Barbarian Civilization fills this gap skilfully. Strongly recommended!” - Ayse Zarakol, University of Cambridge “Achieves such an important project; bringing the ontological security of China to understand the Europe-China relations. This is a very powerful explanation, and done with strong historical sensibilities that are much neglected in IR-theorization.” - Chih-yu Shih, National Taiwan University “China and the Barbarian Civilization is an exciting new book that explores the complex relationship China has historically had with Europe. Bjørnar Sverdrup-Thygeson argues that International Relations as a discipline needs to focus much more centrally on questions of Chinese identity formation including, especially, the role Europe played in Chinese identity construction. This refocusing on identity is necessary in order to provide a more complex understanding of China’s historical, as well as contemporary policies toward Europe. Through a number of carefully executed case studies, this book persuasively demonstrates that a new lens is needed in understanding China/Europe relations. This is a very valuable addition to the scholarship on China, Europe, ontological security, and identity politics more broadly.” - Jelena Subotic, Georgia State University “A thoroughly fascinating, carefully researched book on China’s ontological security seeking in its relationship with the European Union. This book’s insights will help scholars and practitioners alike, appreciate or navigate the up-and-down relations between the EU and China (currently at a low with debates about ""de-risking"", power transition and incompatible values). Highly recommended reading for students of identity in foreign policy, power transition in international relations, Chinese foreign policy, European common and foreign security, and inter-civilisational dialogue.” - Reuben Wong, National University of Singapore

Author Information

Bjørnar Sverdrup-Thygeson is Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS), specializing in Chinese foreign policy and international relations theory. He holds a PhD from the LSE, after studies at Oxford and universities in Norway and China, and has published on a broad range of topics related to Chinese foreign policies of the past and present.

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