Ende der China-Illusion. Wie wir mit Pekings Machtanspruch umgehen müssen

Janka Oertel

Abstract

This German-language popular science book entitled 'End of the China illusion. How we must deal with Beijing's power ambitions' comes at a pivotal time (please note that all following translations from German to English are my own). Written by Janka Oertel, Director of the Asia programme and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, this book is certain to contribute to an increasingly lively public debate in Germany about how to best engage with autocracies. In the academic discourse John Lough's Germany's Russia Problem or Hamilton and Ohlberg's Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World have previously shed light on the various challenges emanating from Putin's Russia and Xi's China. In her book, Oertel aims to dispel common misconceptions about China, which she calls the 'China illusion'. Besides the Chinese Communist Party, Oertel believes western entrepreneurs, politicians, and experts also contributed to what she calls the 'myth of modern China'.