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Unlikely Partners?

China, the European Union and the Forging of a Strategic Partnership

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Makes the case for a new form of international organization
  • Integrates deep understandings of European and Chinese political aims and perspectives
  • Analyzes relevant issues and conflicts within the Sino-European relationship, from human rights to the shifting global situation vis-a-vis other great powers to future trajectories of partnership

Part of the book series: Governing China in the 21st Century (GC21)

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. Strategic Partnerships: A New Form of International Engagement

    • Anna Michalski, Zhongqi Pan
    Pages 11-40
  3. The Development of EU-China Relations

    • Anna Michalski, Zhongqi Pan
    Pages 41-69
  4. Europe, China, and the Diffusion of Norms

    • Anna Michalski, Zhongqi Pan
    Pages 71-96
  5. European and Chinese Perspectives on the International System

    • Anna Michalski, Zhongqi Pan
    Pages 133-163
  6. Correction to: Unlikely Partners?

    • Anna Michalski, Zhongqi Pan
    Pages C1-C2
  7. Back Matter

    Pages 177-203

About this book

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the relations between China and the EU, tracing the development of this complex, yet intriguing, relationship between two substantially different actors. To uncover a deeper understanding of this unlikely partnership, the authors analyze the partnership through the prism of contending norms and worldviews. The China-EU strategic partnership has evolved through fits and starts but despite continuous trade disputes and severe diplomatic misunderstandings, the EU and China pledge to uphold, even deepen, the partnership. Policy experts and scholars will learn how such contending bilateral relationships can be managed and establish a better understanding of deep-seated conceptual differences between these two entities.  


Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Government, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Anna Michalski

  • School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Zhongqi Zhongqi

About the authors

Dr. Anna Michalski is Associate Professor at the Department of Government, Uppsala University, Sweden, and research fellow at the Europe Institute at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. 

Zhongqi Pan is Professor of International Relations at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai China.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Unlikely Partners?

  • Book Subtitle: China, the European Union and the Forging of a Strategic Partnership

  • Authors: Anna Michalski, Zhongqi Zhongqi

  • Series Title: Governing China in the 21st Century

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3141-0

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Political Science and International Studies, Political Science and International Studies (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-10-3140-3Published: 01 April 2017

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-10-9802-4Published: 29 July 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-10-3141-0Published: 27 March 2017

  • Series ISSN: 2730-6968

  • Series E-ISSN: 2730-6976

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XV, 203

  • Topics: Diplomacy, Asian Politics, European Union Politics

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access