Posted on 10 November 2020
Bertille James, PhD candidate in Modern and Contemporary History at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, spent one month on research stay at the HAEU as Vibeke Sørensen grant holder. Her PhD project, supervised by Prof. Kiran Klaus Patel, studies ‘China and Europe in the Age of Globalisation (1978-1992)’. In this article, Bertille James tells us more about her research project and stay at the HAEU.
What is your research about and how did you come up with this topic?
My research focuses on the relations between China and Europe between 1978 and 1992. I put into perspective the development of this relation in the context of the end of the Cold War and of rampant globalization, and also examine the exchanges between non-state actors in this context. I focus on the perspectives of China, the European Community, as well as of three of its most important member states: the Federal Republic of Germany, France and the United Kingdom. This work questions the institutionalization of the Sino-European relationship, the construction of the strategic visions of these entities within the framework of the relationships, the transformation of mutual perceptions during this period, as well as the evolution of trade relations.
During my studies, I first specialized in the field of East Asian studies and got the opportunity to approach China’s relations with the rest of the world. As part of my master's degree, I wrote a dissertation on the 1985 Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement between China and the European Community. This thesis is therefore a continuation of this earlier work and allows me to study the Sino-European relationship over a wider period. Moreover, this topic allows making use of the languages I got to learn and practice during my studies.
Why is it important (socially and academically) to conduct such research?
Academically, there is a growing literature on the history of relations between China and Europe but, generally, researchers have been more interested in China's relations with the United States and the Soviet Union. My research therefore complements these works, focusing on a recent period for which archives were only recently opened and therefore little used. Beyond the strictly academic sphere, I hope that my work will provide a better understanding of the current dynamics of relations between China and Europe. Furthermore, I would like to demonstrate the importance of the European Community/European Union in the context of the contemporary construction of Europe's relations with the rest of the world.
What did you expect to find at the HAEU to help you conduct your research?
Documents from the Historical Archives of the European Union are essential to my work because one of my central questions concerns the role of the European Community in the development of European relations with China from 1978 to 1992. Before going to the archives in Florence, I had already been able to explore the HAEU online resources, in particular the private papers of Emile Noël, as well as the national archives in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. In the HAEU reading room, I was able to consult many resources, in particular those of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Space Agency. My research at the HAEU provided me with, among other things, a better understanding of how these institutions saw their role in the development of Sino-European relations.
How did you learn about the Vibeke Sørensen grant to conduct research at the HAEU?
I heard about the Vibeke Sørensen grant through my thesis supervisor. This grant allowed me to spend a relatively long time in the archives and to explore their full potential. Beyond the archival documents of the main institutions of the European Community, I got the time to explore many other sources allowing me in particular to deepen research into the role of non-state actors in the construction of Sino-European relations. It was also an opportunity for me to interact with the academic community of the EUI, and I took advantage of the archives’ library, which offers a nice collection of publications in the field of European integration history.
Bertille James will present and discuss the results of her research at the HAEU at the next ADGRC seminar, on 18 November, from 17.00 to 18.30, on Zoom.
Click here to register