Sebastian Heilmann

China stands as a major "Red Swan" challenge to the social sciences. The political resilience of the Communist party-state, in combination with a rapidly expanding and internationally competitive economy, represents a significant deviant and unpredicted case with a huge potential impact not only on the global distribution of political and economic power but also on the global debate about models of development. China's exceptional development trajectory thus challenges conventional wisdom as well as conventional models of political change. The traditional approach to systemic classification is not helpful in understanding the dynamics in China, a system which is unexpectedly adaptable and versatile in many policy fields, particularly as regards economic and technology policy. To avoid the inherent limitations of typological approaches, this book uses analytical approaches drawn from policy studies. The focus is on the manner in which action programs in China's governmental system can be developed, formulated, implemented, adjusted, and revised. Policy making is therefore seen in this book as an open-ended process with an uncertain outcome, driven by conflicting interests, recurrent interactions, and continuous feedback—it is not seen as being determined by history, regime type, or institutions in a straight-forward way. Key to this are the political and administrative methodology as well as the capacity to deal with both existing and emerging challenges, the correction mechanisms when things go wrong and conflicts arise, and adaptive capabilities in a constantly changing economic or international context.

This balanced and thoughtful book presents a thorough analysis of the dynamics of China’s foreign relations. Sebastian Heilmann and Dirk H. Schmidt provide a comprehensive and discriminating view of the complex, often competing factors (domestic influences, regional tensions, global uncertainties) that shape Chinese foreign policy. They portray the PRC as a land of multiple identities—a nation that is becoming more assertive in East Asia as it explores novel approaches to its foreign economic policies, while simultaneously displaying thin-skinned sensitivities when confronted with international criticism. The authors argue that unconventional approaches to foreign relations—in particular a unique combination of long-term strategies with multilevel policy experiments—are driving Chinese global expansion. The provocative and challenging final chapter, designed to spur discussion, considers China’s imperial identity warring against the decentralized activities conducted in the “shadow of the empire.” Illicit transnational “guerilla-like” networks have thus become powerful driving forces behind the continued development of China’s foreign policy as well as its foreign-trade relations. The authors contend that the activities of these “niche nomads,” with their largely invisible or chameleon-like presence, constitute the most alarming dimension of China’s foreign relations as they gain ground and resources in many parts of the world with the potential to shake the very foundations of other societies.

This balanced and thoughtful book presents a thorough analysis of the dynamics of China’s foreign relations. Sebastian Heilmann and Dirk H. Schmidt provide a comprehensive and discriminating view of the complex, often competing factors (domestic influences, regional tensions, global uncertainties) that shape Chinese foreign policy. They portray the PRC as a land of multiple identities—a nation that is becoming more assertive in East Asia as it explores novel approaches to its foreign economic policies, while simultaneously displaying thin-skinned sensitivities when confronted with international criticism. The authors argue that unconventional approaches to foreign relations—in particular a unique combination of long-term strategies with multilevel policy experiments—are driving Chinese global expansion. The provocative and challenging final chapter, designed to spur discussion, considers China’s imperial identity warring against the decentralized activities conducted in the “shadow of the empire.” Illicit transnational “guerilla-like” networks have thus become powerful driving forces behind the continued development of China’s foreign policy as well as its foreign-trade relations. The authors contend that the activities of these “niche nomads,” with their largely invisible or chameleon-like presence, constitute the most alarming dimension of China’s foreign relations as they gain ground and resources in many parts of the world with the potential to shake the very foundations of other societies.

Chinas rapider Aufstieg in Weltwirtschaft und Weltpolitik stellt das westliche Ausland vor grundlegende Herausforderungen: Inwieweit lässt sich das aufstrebende Land in internationale Regelwerke und Verantwortlichkeiten einbinden? Verinnerlichen außenpolitische Akteure in China wirklich die Spielregeln internationaler Kooperation oder passen sie sich nur vordergründig an, um zu warten, bis China diese Regeln zu seinen Gunsten verändern kann? Wird China zu einer strategischen Bedrohung oder zu einem berechenbaren und kooperationsbereiten Partner? In diesem Buch werden Chinas politische und wirtschaftliche Außenbeziehungen in deren Verknüpfung mit globalen wie auch innerchinesischen Veränderungen dargelegt. Der Band basiert auf in den vergangenen zwanzig Jahren entstandenen Forschungsarbeiten der Autoren, auf einer umfassenden Auswertung chinesischer Quellen und auf dem neuesten Stand der internationalen Chinaforschung.