Introduction

Abstract

In the introduction Albers argues that understanding Sino-European relations between 1969 and 1982 is crucial to explaining China’s economic and political transformations in the twentieth century. Drawing on approaches from international and comparative history he proposes to study these relations by comparing British, French and German China policies over the course of three periods, covering the time of Richard Nixon’s visit to Beijing, the final phase of Maoism, and the advent of the reform period under Deng Xiaoping. Albers argues that this approach allows one to explain the main driving forces of European China policies, the historical significance of Sino-European relations, and possible implications for the future.