Identity Politics and Its Challenges: Ethnic Relations, Nation-Building, and Regional Integration in Central and Eastern Europe
[Author] KONG Hanbing
[Abstract] Central and Eastern Europe is a region consisting of 17countries from three sub-regions-former Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union, and Western Europe. Chinese scholars tend to perceive the 17countries as one region in their research, attempting to promote China’s trade and economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with the region. Identity politics is a critical perspective in studying Central and Eastern Europe and is an important basis for China’s policy toward this region. Historically ethnic relations, nation-building, and foreign policies of Central and Eastern European countries were deeply shaped by conflicts between external civilizations and great powers as well as by their diverse ethnicities and religions. Today, Central and Eastern European countries stil face such chalenges in ethnic relations, nation-building, and regional integration. No matter how we define Central and Eastern Europe, we must examine identity politics in the region with a holistic approach and promote China’s relations with the region.
[Source] The Journal of International Studies, No.2, 2020, pp.9-31.
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