How we work

The China Horizons project covers 5 thematic research areas, namely: Chinese society and culture; Chinese politics, Chinese economy, China’s regional and global strategies and EU-China relations.

Furthermore, the project prioritizes the impact and dissemination of the results towards EU policymakers, the corporate world, the media and the wider public across Europe.

Society and Culture

The dynamism of China’s society and culture

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Work Package 2 aims to analyse the discrepancies and overlaps in conceptions of an ideal society between the new generations and the Party-state. It will investigate social protests, literature and cultural productions, gender experience and discourses on society in contemporary China through a multidisciplinary approach.

It will focus on China’s young generations and middle-class view of the norms and values of an ideal society, how much current social conflicts reflect their aspirations, and the extent of the role of patriotic education. Moreover, it will update the existing knowledge base on China’s cultural industries, including the regulatory environment and the artist - state relations.

Work package 2 leader

Jean-Louis Rocca

Jean-Louis Rocca

Professor at Sciences Po, Senior Researcher at Centre for International Studies (CERI), Sciences Po

Sociologist and Political scientist, contemporary Chinese societyHis research focuses on Chinese society, its social stratification and its symbolic and political representations. He pays particular attention to the middle class, which has become one of the major themes of debate and public policy. Firstly through an analysis of the different definitions given to it by social groups (businessmen, intellectuals) and the Party. Secondly by analyzing the phenomena of identification with this social class that can be identified in social conflicts and cultural movements.

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Work package 2 members

Cristina Bahón Arnaiz

Cristina Bahón Arnaiz

Assistant Professor at Autonomous University of Madrid, Center for East Asian Studies.

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Hélène Le Bail

Hélène Le Bail

Research Fellow at Centre for International Studies (CERI), Sciences Po.

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Katja Drinhausen

Katja Drinhausen

Head of Program at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Taciana Fisac

Taciana Fisac

Director of the Center for East Asian Studies, Professor at Autonomous University of Madrid, Center for East Asian Studies.

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Anna Gryszkiewicz

Anna Gryszkiewicz

Researcher at SWPS University.

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Dorota Ilczuk

Dorota Ilczuk

Professor at SWPS University.

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Marcin Jacoby

Marcin Jacoby

Associate Professor at SWPS University, Head of the Asian Civilisation Research Center.

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Tamara Kamińska

Tamara Kamińska

PhD candidate at SWPS University.

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Piotr Machajek

Piotr Machajek

PhD candidate at SWPS University.

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Françoise Mengin

Françoise Mengin

Senior Research Fellow at Centre for International Studies (CERI), Sciences Po.

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Gladys Nieto

Gladys Nieto

Tenured Professor on East Asian Studies at Autonomous University of Madrid.

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Mario Santander Oliván

Mario Santander Oliván

Researcher at Autonomous University of Madrid, Center for East Asian Studies.

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František Reismüller

František Reismüller

Researcher at SWPS University.

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Camille Salgues

Camille Salgues

Contract Researcher at Centre for International Studies (CERI), Sciences Po.

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Politics

Party-State Politics

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Work Package 3 will develop robust and comprehensive knowledge on the areas of Chinese politics undergoing significant changes under Xi Jinping. These include the Communist Party’s organisation and its relationship with the state and the judiciary; Central-local governments relations; the revival of Marxism-Leninism as the state ideology; Party-business relations; Chinese society’s support of the political regime and Nationalism.

The WP3 analytical framework will explain China’s political system and its ambitions, and predict its direction of development, with the objective to disseminate research-based knowledge on Chinese politics to the EU’s policy community and citizens.

Work package 3 leader

Kjeld Erik Brødsgaard

Kjeld Erik Brødsgaard

Professor at Copenhagen Business School

Political scientist specializing in China’s political economy and the organizational evolution of CCP-led governanceHis research focuses on Chinese politics, the Chinese political system, the Chinese Communist Party, nomenklatura and cadre management, SOEs and Party-business relations, and elite circulation Party-state-business.

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Work package 3 members

Kasper Ingeman Beck

Kasper Ingeman Beck

Postdoc at Copenhagen Business School.

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Jean-Pierre Cabestan

Jean-Pierre Cabestan

Senior Researcher at Asia Centre, Emeritus Senior Researcher at French National Centre for Scientific Research, Emeritus Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University.

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Nis Grünberg

Nis Grünberg

Lead Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Jean-François Di Meglio

Jean-François Di Meglio

President, co-founder and contributor of Asia Center, Associate Professor at Sciences Po Paris, Ecole Doctorale Professor at Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Associate Professor at Université Paris Dauphine - PSL.

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Jean-Baptiste Monnier

Jean-Baptiste Monnier

Vice-President and CFO at Asia Centre.

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Economy

The Chinese economy: understanding its functioning and its global impact

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The primary objective of this Work package is a better understanding of the functioning of the Chinese economy, with special attention to China’s evolving growth engines and its state driven economic model. Moreover, it will create two one-stop, reliable data repository and indicators platforms on China’s economy and policies to monitor trends in the Chinese economy and its impact on other countries. It will aim to facilitate economic research about the Chinese economy outside its borders. Finally, it aims to assess the impact of China’s increasingly important economy on the rest of the world, with particular attention to Europe.

Work package 4 leader

Alicia Garcia Herrero

Alicia Garcia Herrero

Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis, Senior Fellow at Bruegel, Non-resident Senior Follow at the East Asian Institute, Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Economist specialized in monetary and financial issues in emerging markets, banking crises and resolution strategies, financial developmentHer research focuses on Chinese, HK, Taiwan economy; East Asia affairs; Chinese internal affairs, Eu-China relations, US-China relations and semiconductors industry.

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Work package 4 members

Emanuela Dimonte

Emanuela Dimonte

Head of Development at Bruegel.

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Jianwei Xu

Jianwei Xu

Senior Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis, Non-resident Fellow at Bruegel.

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Mathias Sand Brander

Mathias Sand Brander

Project Officer at Bruegel.

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Alexander Brown

Alexander Brown

Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Wendy Chang

Wendy Chang

Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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François Chimits

François Chimits

Analyst (Brussels office) at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau

Head of Program at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Jacob Gunter

Jacob Gunter

Senior Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Antonia Hmaidi

Antonia Hmaidi

Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Michal Krystyanczuk

Michal Krystyanczuk

Data Scientist at Bruegel.

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Alma Kurtovic

Alma Kurtovic

Deputy Head of Development at Bruegel.

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Jean-François Di Meglio

Jean-François Di Meglio

President, co-founder and contributor of Asia Center, Associate Professor at Sciences Po Paris, Ecole Doctorale Professor at Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Associate Professor at Université Paris Dauphine - PSL.

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Françoise Mengin

Françoise Mengin

Senior Research Fellow at Centre for International Studies (CERI), Sciences Po.

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Jean-Baptiste Monnier

Jean-Baptiste Monnier

Vice-President and CFO at Asia Centre.

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Robin Schindowski

Robin Schindowski

Research Assistant at Bruegel.

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Max J. Zenglein

Max J. Zenglein

Chief Economist at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Foreign Policy

China’s regional and global strategies

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The main objective of tis work package is to develop independent knowledge of China’s foreign and security policy and China’s regional and global strategies, including the country’s long-term core interests and threats, and the roadmap for achieving the “China Dream of national rejuvenation”. It will analyze the priorities, strengths, and weaknesses of China’s strategy towards its neighbourhood areas and its global strategy, their practical implementation, and the adjustments in response to the reactions of other powers and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Moreover, it will research how China meets the EU on the international stage, and how the EU can best serve its strategic interests and values in dealing with China.

Work package 5 leader

Jean-François Di Meglio

Jean-François Di Meglio

President, co-founder and contributor of Asia Center, Associate Professor at Sciences Po Paris, Ecole Doctorale Professor at Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Associate Professor at Université Paris Dauphine - PSL

Specialist in international and asian finance and banking sectorHis research engages China’s Economy and economic history, China’s Energy Security and raw materials, International and Asian Finance and banking sector.

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Work package 5 members

Alessia A. Amighini

Alessia A. Amighini

Co-Head of Asia Centre, Senior Associate Research Fellow at ISPI, Associate Professor at the University of Piemonte Orientale.

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Clément Durif

Clément Durif

Junior Research Fellow at Asia Centre.

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Helena Legarda

Helena Legarda

Lead Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Yue Lin

Yue Lin

Assistant Professor at Autonomous University of Madrid .

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Jean-Baptiste Monnier

Jean-Baptiste Monnier

Vice-President and CFO at Asia Centre.

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Mario Esteban Rodríguez

Mario Esteban Rodríguez

Associate Professor at Autonomous University of Madrid.

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Eva Seiwert

Eva Seiwert

Analyst/DWARC project coordinator at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Claus Soong

Claus Soong

Analyst (Brussels office) at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Abigaël Vasselier

Abigaël Vasselier

Director Research China's Foreign Relations (MERICS).

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EU-China

EU-China relations

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This Work Package aims to develop a picture of China’s growing influence in Europe and up-to-date analysis of EU-China relations, including the main strategies, changes, and the (non) convergence in EU Member States’ China exposure and policies. It will assess China’s impact on Europe’s quest for strategic autonomy (including on technology and innovation policies) and on EU’s democratic resilience. Finally, it will provide forward-looking recommendations to European policy makers and stakeholders, regarding the general direction of EU-China relations and specific measures of member states and EU.

Work package 6 leader

Abigaël Vasselier

Abigaël Vasselier

Director Research China's Foreign Relations (MERICS)

EU-China; Geopolitics; China´s foreign and security policyAbigaël Vasselier heads the Foreign Relations team at MERICS. Previously, Abigaël worked as Deputy Head of Division for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia at the European External Action Service (EEAS).Abigaël holds a Master’s degree in Asian Studies from SOAS in London and she also graduated in International Relations from Sciences Po Aix and has a Bachelor degree in Chinese language. She studied Chinese at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.

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Work package 6 members

Alessia A. Amighini

Alessia A. Amighini

Co-Head of Asia Centre, Senior Associate Research Fellow at ISPI, Associate Professor at the University of Piemonte Orientale.

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Mikko Huotari

Mikko Huotari

Executive Director of Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Helena Legarda

Helena Legarda

Lead Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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Grzegorz Stec

Grzegorz Stec

Analyst (Brussels office) at Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS).

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