Coming From Nowhere: The Chinese Perception of the Concept of
Central Europe

C 2014

Coming From Nowhere: The Chinese Perception of the Concept of Central Europe

TURCSÁNYI, Richard, Runya QIAOAN and Zdeněk KŘÍŽ

Basic information

Original name

Coming From Nowhere: The Chinese Perception of the Concept of Central Europe

Authors

TURCSÁNYI, Richard (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Runya QIAOAN (156 China) and Zdeněk KŘÍŽ (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Lodz, The Quandaries of China's Domestic and Foreign Development, p. 155-171, 17 pp. Contemporary Asian Studies Series, 2014

Publisher

Lodz University Press

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Kapitola resp. kapitoly v odborné knize

Field of Study

50601 Political science

Country of publisher

Poland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Publication form

printed version "print"

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14230/14:00082945

Organization unit

Faculty of Social Studies

ISBN

978-83-7969-385-6

Keywords in English

China; Central Europe; Chinese perception of Central Europe; China-CEE relations

Abstract

V originále

In the last few years, the Central Europe has witnessed a growing Chinese presence demonstrated among others by high level visits; rapid growth of trade and investment volumes; and further pledges to develop economic links. There are more reasons why China has become interested in cultivating relations with this region, but it is primarily due to favourable economic conditions and the membership of the EU. Yet, while there are promising potentials for further development of the relations, it seems there are also obstacles, coming mainly from mutual lack of understanding and knowledge. The presented article studies Chinese perception of Central Europe as a concept and it does so by focusing at the Chinese discourse related to the usage of the terms labelling the region, at three levels of discourse – official use, general public discourse, and academia. The findings show that the term ‘Central Europe’, whilst existing at certain level, is to a large extent eclipsed by the broader ‘Central and Eastern Europe’, or ‘Eastern Europe’. Tellingly, each of these terms is connoted with different perceptions and historical legacies, with ‘Eastern’ being in general perceived in less positive tone in European context than ‘Central’. It can be therefore regarded as a positive sign from the European perspective that the ‘Eastern Europe’ is losing its frequency in the official use on expense of the ‘Central and Eastern Europe’. Yet, questions appear on the wider public usage of the terms, as well as the non-existence of the ‘Central Europe’ in official usage and among the academia.

Links

MUNI/A/0754/2012, interní kód MU

Name: Aktuální otázky evropské a mezinárodní politiky

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Files attached

Coming_From_Nowhere_the_Chinese_Percepti.pdf

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Citovat

TURCSÁNYI, Richard, Runya QIAOAN and Zdeněk KŘÍŽ. Coming From Nowhere: The Chinese Perception of the Concept of Central Europe. In Dominik Mierzejewski. The Quandaries of China's Domestic and Foreign Development. Lodz: Lodz University Press, 2014, p. 155-171. Contemporary Asian Studies Series. ISBN 978-83-7969-385-6.

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   address = {Lodz},
   booktitle = {The Quandaries of China's Domestic and Foreign Development},
   editor = {Dominik Mierzejewski},
   keywords = {China; Central Europe; Chinese perception of Central Europe; China-CEE relations},
   howpublished = {tištěná verze "print"},
   language = {eng},
   location = {Lodz},
   isbn = {978-83-7969-385-6},
   pages = {155-171},
   publisher = {Lodz University Press},
   title = {Coming From Nowhere: The Chinese Perception of the Concept of Central Europe},
   year = {2014}
}

TY  - CHAP
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PY  - 2014
TI  - Coming From Nowhere: The Chinese Perception of the Concept of Central Europe
VL  - Contemporary Asian Studies Series
PB  - Lodz University Press
CY  - Lodz
SN  - 9788379693856
KW  - China
KW  - Central Europe
KW  - Chinese perception of Central Europe
KW  - China-CEE relations
N2  - In the last few years, the Central Europe has witnessed a growing Chinese presence demonstrated among others by high level visits; rapid growth of trade and investment volumes; and further pledges to develop economic links. There are more reasons why China has become interested in cultivating relations with this region, but it is primarily due to favourable economic conditions and the membership of the EU. Yet, while there are promising potentials for further development of the relations, it seems there are also obstacles, coming mainly from mutual lack of understanding and knowledge. The presented article studies Chinese perception of Central Europe as a concept and it does so by focusing at the Chinese discourse related to the usage of the terms labelling the region, at three levels of discourse – official use, general public discourse, and academia. The findings show that the term ‘Central Europe’, whilst existing at certain level, is to a large extent eclipsed by the broader ‘Central and Eastern Europe’, or ‘Eastern Europe’. Tellingly, each of these terms is connoted with different perceptions and historical legacies, with ‘Eastern’ being in general perceived in less positive tone in European context than ‘Central’. It can be therefore regarded as a positive sign from the European perspective that the ‘Eastern Europe’ is losing its frequency in the official use on expense of the ‘Central and Eastern Europe’. Yet, questions appear on the wider public usage of the terms, as well as the non-existence of the ‘Central Europe’ in official usage and among the academia.
ER  -

TURCSÁNYI, Richard, Runya QIAOAN and Zdeněk KŘÍŽ. Coming From Nowhere: The Chinese Perception of the Concept of Central Europe. In Dominik Mierzejewski. \textit{The Quandaries of China's Domestic and Foreign Development}. Lodz: Lodz University Press, 2014, p.~155-171. Contemporary Asian Studies Series. ISBN~978-83-7969-385-6.

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