Commissioned Book Review: Thomas Christiansen, Emil Kirchner and Uwe Wissenbach, The European Union and China
| Date | 01 November 2020 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1478929920924195 |
| Author | Steven Langendonk |
| Published date | 01 November 2020 |
| Subject Matter | Commissioned Book Reviews |
book-review2020
Commissioned Book Review
Political Studies Review
2020, Vol. 18(4) NP13 –NP14
Commissioned Book Review
journals.sagepub.com/home/psrev
The European Union and China by Thomas
each actor, which in turn provide helpful con-
Christiansen, Emil Kirchner and Uwe
textualization for six thematic chapters on the
Wissenbach. London: Red Globe Press, 2019. 237
relationship’s political, economic, societal,
pp., £33.99, ISBN 9781137308290.
security, international development, and global
politics dimensions. The empirical and analyti-
The past decade proved tumultuous for rela-
cal depth of the volume is impressive, owing
tions between China and the European Union
not only to a plethora of supporting academic
(EU), in part due to paradigm-shaking devel-
literature and official documents, but also
opments such as China’s arrival in EU affairs
the inclusion of thought-provoking discussions
with the operationalisation of its Belt and
of dominant academic narratives regarding
Road Initiative and the resulting discord
China’s role in world politics. The juxtaposi-
between member states in international affairs.
tion of interpretations of China’s degree of
In this context, the academic literature on the
assertiveness in international affairs derived
relationship between China and the EU
from the three mentioned theories with coun-
expanded tremendously in terms of breadth
tervailing arguments illustrates the added value
and depth, and now accommodates dimen-
of this approach (pp. 52–54). By nuancing the
sion-specific accounts (i.e. economic or secu-
value of such established theories in explaining
rity ties), as well as major strands of inquiry
China’s role, students are made familiar with
pertaining to the strategic nature of the rela-
the limitations inherent to each angle. Together
tionship, its political economy, and the norma-
with its...
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