A New Player in Town: China's Growing Role in Central Europe
Autumn Semester 2018
(Syllabus)
This syllabus presents binding information about the course and its use is solely for this course
and this semester. In case students discover any shortcoming or an issue which is not sufficiently
clarified, they are encouraged to consult as early as possible.
Annotation of the course
The course discusses one of the most interesting international developments in recent years in
Central Europe - the growing role of China. For both sides, this is quite a new diplomatic frontier:
for most of the history they have focused their attention elsewhere, most recently since
their political direction diverged after 1989. The situation, however, started to change after the
global crisis in 2008 and even more so since 2012 and 2013, when China initiated new diplomatic
initiatives 16+1 and Belt and Road in which Central Europe plays a role.
Students will acquire a complex understanding of major issues in the relations of China and Central
and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Throughout the course, focus will be paid on developing
of critical and analytical thinking of students. We will discuss issues relevant for the ChinaCEE
ranging from political, economic (especially trade and investments), and also societal (mutual
perceptions).
In the first part of the course, students will get familiar with ‘background’ information about
Chinese foreign policy, Central European affairs after 1989 (especially for international students
from outside the region), EU-China relations and historical development of China-CEE relations.
Knowledge of the basic facts will be tested in the mid-term exam by a few short open questions.
The second part of the course will be even more interactive and will consist of student presentations,
followed by discussions on the concrete issues of relations between individual CEE countries
and China, including some most important investment cases.
Lecturer
Ing. Mgr. Richard Q. Turcsányi, Ph.D.
Email: turcsanyi@mail.muni.cz
Consultations: Possible to arrange over an email, but note that I normally sit at Mendel University
in Brno, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies (address: gen. Piky no. 7).
Evaluation methods
Mid-term exam (20 %)
- mid-term exam will take 30 minutes and will consist of about five short questions testing
knowledge of basic aspects discussing in the first part of the course
Group presentation (20 %)
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- every student will be supposed to join a group and prepare a presentation on given topic. Topics
will be assigned during the first week of the course, when also groups will be formed.
There are three students in the group. Each presentation will take about 10-15 minutes and
will be followed by the discussion. It is recommended that all members of the group participate
since they will be graded based on their performance.
- presentations will take place in the second half of the course.
- the topics for the presentations are listed in given classes, you will be choosing the topics in
the first class (October 8). If not present, talk to the teacher.
Briefing paper (30 %)
- Each student will choose a topic from given list to prepare a briefing paper on. The purpose of
briefing paper is to collect necessary information about given topic and present them in a coherent
way. Each briefing paper has 1500-2000 words.
- deadline to submit the briefing paper in the Information System is December 7.
- for more information on briefing papers see the end of this syllabus
Active presence and final consultation (30 %)
- students are expected to participate in the classes and actively get involved either with their
own questions and comments or via answering questions posed by the teacher. In case of missing
more than one class students are recommended to explain the reasons to the teacher.
- There is no final exam, but there will be a short final individual consultation during which a
student will be asked to clarify some of the aspects which appeared throughout the course,
particularly related to her/his performance (in the mid-term exam, essay, presentation, etc)
- the final consultations will take place in the final week of the semester, exact times will be
agreed upon later on
Grading
A: 100 – 90 %
B: 89 – 80 %
C: 79 – 70 %
D: 69 – 65 %
E: 64 – 60 %
F: 59 – 0 %
Course schedule and lecture topics
8 October: Introduction to the course and Central Europe affairs after 1989
- Milos Zeman interview on the CCTV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr7TVfKMICU
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- Viktor Orban: Era of 'liberal democracy' is over. https://www.dw.com/en/viktor-orban-era-of-
liberal-democracy-is-over/a-43732540
- Lonnie Johnson: Central Europe. Enemies, Neighbours, Friends (Conclusion, pages provided).
15 October: Chinese foreign policy I. (History and drivers of Chinese foreign policy)
- Qin Yaqing, “Continuity through Change: Background Knowledge and China’s International
Strategy.” Chinese Journal of International Politics, 2014, 285–314
- Fei-ling Wang, Preservation, Prosperity and Power. What motivates China’s foreign policy?
Journal of Contemporary China (2005), 14(45), November, 669–694
22 October: Chinese foreign policy II. (Chinese bilateral relations with countries and world re-
gions)
- Jakub Jakóbowski (2018): Chinese-led Regional Multilateralism in Central and Eastern Europe,
Africa and Latin America: 16 + 1, FOCAC, and CCF, Journal of Contemporary China, DOI:
10.1080/10670564.2018.1458055
- Nathan and Scobell: Search for Security (pages provided)
29 October: EU-China relations
- EU–China Economic Relations to 2025 Building a Common Future. A Joint Report by Bruegel,
Chatham House, China Center for International Economic Exchanges and The Chinese University
of Hong Kong Alicia García-Herrero, K.C. Kwok, Liu Xiangdong, Tim Summers and Zhang Yansheng.
(http://bruegel.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CHHJ5627_China_EU_Report_170913_WEB.pdf),
- ONLY executive summary is compulsory.
- China at the Gates. A New Power Audit of EU-China Relations. François Godement & Abigaël
Vasselier. ECFR. (https://www.ecfr.eu/page/-/China_Power_Audit.pdf) - ONLY pages 5-20 are
compulsory
- Chen Zhimin, China, the European Union and the Fragile World Order. JCMS 2016 Volume 54.
Number 4. pp. 775–792
5 November: History of China-CEE relations (20th century and early 21st century)
- Rudolf Fürst, Preface: China Creating an Additional Strategic Partnership with the Post-Communist
Part of Europe? In Rudolf Furst and Filip Tesar (2013) China’s Comeback in Former Eastern
Europe: No Longer Comrades, Not Yet Strategic Partners? UMV: Prague - ONLY provided
pages are compulsory
12 November: Development of 16+1 and BRI
- Richard Q. Turcsanyi, Tamás Matura and Rudolf Furst, “The Visegrad countries’ political relations
with China. Goals, results and prospects.” In Szunomár, Ágnes (eds): Chinese investments
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and financial engagements in Central Europe. Myth or Reality? (Budapest: Institute of World
Economics HAS, 2014) - ONLY provided pages are compulsory
- Europe and China’s New Silk Roads Edited by: Frans-Paul van der Putten John Seaman Mikko
Huotari Alice Ekman Miguel Otero-Iglesias ETNC Report December 2016 (https://www.clingendael.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/Europe_and_Chinas_New_Silk_Roads_0.pdf),
ONLY pages
3-11 are compulsory
- Richard Q. Turcsanyi, Growing Tensions Between China and the EU Over 16+1 Platform. The
Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2017/11/growing-tensions-between-china-and-the-eu-
over-161-platform/
- Richard Q. Turcsanyi, OBOR’s Elder Brother: Lessons Learnt from the China-CEE 16+1 Platform.
IAPS Dialogue, University of Nottingham. https://iapsdialogue.org/2017/07/19/obors-elder-
brother-lessons-learned-from-the-china-cee-161-platform/
- MERICS. Mapping the Belt and Road initiative: this is where we stand. (https://www.meric-
s.org/en/bri-tracker/mapping-the-belt-and-road-initiative)
19 November: Mid-term exam. Presentations - Chinese investments in the CEE (guest lecture of
prof Xu Xiuli from China Agriculture University in Beijing)
- Wade Jacoby, 2014. "Different cases, different faces: Chinese investment in Central and Eastern
Europe," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 199-214, March.
- Chinese FDI in Europe in 2017. Rapid recovery after initial slowdown. An update by Rhodium
Group (RHG) and the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS). By  Thilo
Hanemann  and  Mikko Huotari. (https://www.merics.org/en/papers-on-china/chinese-fdi-in-
europe)
Presentation:
- Piraeus port acquisition and functioning under COSCO
26 November: Presentations - V4 approach towards China
- Rudolf Fürst & Gabriela Pleschová (2010) Czech and Slovak Relations with China: Contenders
for China's Favour,Europe-Asia Studies, 62:8, 1363-1381, DOI: 10.1080/09668136.2010.504387
Presentations:
- Chinese greenfield investments in the V4
- CEFC activities in the Czech Republic and beyond
- COVEC case of failed highway project in Poland and the Croatian Peljesac bridge construction
3 December: Presentations - Balkans (and Baltics) and their approach to China
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Presentations:
- Budapest-Belgrade railway upgrade and Serbian bridge construction
- Chinese-built power plants in CEE
- Montenegrin highway and other highway projects in Albania and Macedonia
10 December: Conclusion of the course, final consultations
Presentations:
- CEE agriculture exports to China
- CEE investments in China (activities of Skoda company in China)
Topics for briefing papers
Each briefing paper will be on the topic of relations between China and one of the CEE countries.
Each of the paper should eventually give answer to two main questions:
- what drives Chinese foreign policy towards this country?
- what drives the given country’s attitude towards China?
Besides, the papers should include information such as:
- economic statistics (trade, investments, alternatively tourism)
- history of bilateral political relations
- aspects of cooperation within 16+1 and Belt and Road Initiative
- perception of China within given country (based on leaders’ announcements, media discourse,
public opinion opinion surveys etc)/
Countries to choose from:
Poland
Hungary
Croatia
Slovenia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Montenegro
Macedonia
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Serbia
Romania
Bulgaria
Albania
Lithuania
Latvia
Estonia
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