EVENTS

Abstract

Nowadays, there is much focus on the views of Beijing and Moscow and their sharing of common goals. There is even talk of an alliance between these two countries reviving older times and a dictatorial alignment. Nonetheless, if we scratch the surface, we will find that there is a complex relationship in which geography, history, politics, economics, demography and regional interests play a very important role. This is to say that, despite their common interests regarding the weakening of the current international society, what divides them is stronger. Moreover, we will argue that the competition between these is becoming more manifest particularly when it comes to Europe, where Chinese investment has been very successful so far. To this we have to add the historical perceptions, the asymmetry of economic power, the demographic challenges and the different foreign policy goals of both Moscow and Beijing. In my view, it is a relationship that is not only worth following, but that will have an important role to play in the balance of power of this century, affecting Europe, the USA and India.

About the Speaker

Raquel Vaz-Pinto, is Researcher of the Portuguese Institute of International Relations of NOVA University of Lisbon. She was President of the Portuguese Political Science Association from 2012 to 2016. She is the author of several books and articles that have been published, amongst others, in the Brazilian Journal of International Politics and The American Interest online. Her past and current research interests include Chinese foreign policy and strategy; USA and the Asia-Pacific; India and the World; Religion in International Relations; Europe and the World; and Football and International Relations. She is currently working on a book regarding China with her colleague Luis Mah, focusing on the many Chinas and the way Europe (and Portugal) engages with them. She is a member of the board of IDL-Instituto Amaro da Costa and Clube de Lisboa as well as of the Advisory Council of The Atlantic Network. Currently, she teaches the course on Asian Studies at the Social and Human Sciences Faculty.