China and Post-Soviet Countries Relations

2025/2026

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

1 year, 1 module

Instructor

Mazhinskiy, Stanislav

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course "China and Post-Soviet Countries Relations" is a study of the relationship between China and post-Soviet countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union. As part of the course, students will study the historical, political, economic and cultural aspects of the interaction between these regions. Particular attention will be paid to the impact of Chinese diplomacy, economic strategy and cultural influence on post-Soviet countries, as well as prospects for future cooperation.

Learning Objectives

• The discipline is Elective for students. The main learning objectives are: ● Тo give students a comprehensive overview of the basic knowledge on Chinese and Post-Soviet states relations and main features of that negotiations. ● To develop the basic skills of understanding and interacting with Chinese foreign policy.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Describe Chinese regional policy and characteristics of Chinese international relations in contemporary geopolitical conditions.
• Explains Chinese strategies in respect to economy and society in the different states and regions of Post-Soviet space
• Interprets the Chinese policy in respect to East European states, based on Chinese national mass media resources and regional information; evaluates international policy changes and Chinese interests.
• Describes Chinese interests and negotiation with Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine, within strategic, political and economic circumstances
• Analyzes Chinese policy in Post-Soviet Area within the Global context: threats, challenges and future prospects

Course Contents

• China and Cental Asian Countries
• China and Caucasian countries
• China and Baltic Countries
• China and Belarus, the Ukraine and Russia
• China and Post-Soviet States: Strategies and Future

Assessment Elements

• In-Class Activity
  Lecturer evaluates students’ progress, including comprehension of lecture materials and assigned readings, as well as contribution to discussions. The component is calculated as an average grade achieved on all seminars. If a student is not able to attend the seminar due to illness or any other legitimate reason (relevant document should be provided), he/she is not graded for that seminar. A student can complete the tasks for a missed class and receive a grade. But in this case, the student cannot receive the maximum grade. In all other cases students are graded with 0 for the seminar they have missed.
• Exam
  Small student group (2-3 persons) prepares presentation with the elements of analytical report, using literature, reports, scientific articles and statistics. Group prepares analytical report (include economic, investment, technology, strategies, military and security) chose one of the following topics: - Chinese interests in Kazakhstan - Chinese interests in Uzbekistan - Chinese interests in Kyrgyzstan - Chinese interests in Tajikistan - Chinese interests in Turkmenistan - Chinese interests in Ukraine - Chinese interests in Armenia - Chinese interests in Azerbaijan - Chinese interests in Georgia - Chinese interests in Lithuania - Chinese interests in Russia - Chinese interests in Belarus - Chinese interests in Estonia - Chinese interests in Latvia - Chinese interests in Moldova

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 1st module
  0.4 * Exam + 0.6 * In-Class Activity

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Adam Fagan, & Petr Kopecký. (2018). The Routledge Handbook of East European Politics. Routledge.
• Babajanian, B., Freizer, S., & Stevens, D. (2005). Introduction: Civil society in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Central Asian Survey, 24(3), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/02634930500310287
• Dictators Without Borders: Power and Money in Central Asia, Cooley, A., 2017
• Gabuev, A. (2016). Friends with benefits? [Elektronische Ressource] : Russian-Chinese relations after the Ukraine crisis / Alexander Gabuev. Moscow: Carnegie Moscow Center. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.476547962
• Ilhéu, F. (2020). The global value chains and the evolution of chinese economic model.
• KERR, D. (2010). Central Asian and Russian perspectives on China’s strategic emergence. International Affairs, 86(1), 127–152. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2346.2010.00872.x
• Rumer, E. B., Zhao, H., & Trenin, D. (2007). Central Asia: Views From Washington, Moscow, and Beijing : Views From Washington, Moscow, and Beijing. Armonk, N.Y.: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=275497
• Sacred places, emerging spaces: religious pluralism in the post-Soviet Caucasus, , 2018
• The Baltic nations and Europe: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the twentiety century, Hiden, J., 1991
• The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism?, Rashid, A., 2017
• ZENG, J., & BRESLIN, S. (2016). China’s “new type of Great Power relations”: a G2 with Chinese characteristics? International Affairs, 92(4), 773–794. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2346.12656
• Zürcher, C. (2007). The Post-Soviet Wars : Rebellion, Ethnic Conflict, and Nationhood in the Caucasus. New York: NYU Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=219459

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• 9781000435795 - Theodor Tudoroiu - China's Globalization from Below : Chinese Entrepreneurial Migrants and the Belt and Road Initiative - 2021 - Routledge - https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2892194 - nlebk - 2892194
• Bedford, S., & Souleimanov, E. A. (2016). Under construction and highly contested: Islam in the post-Soviet Caucasus. Third World Quarterly, 37(9), 1559–1580. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2016.1166047
• Dadabaev, T. (2014). Chinese and Japanese foreign policies towards central Asia from a comparative perspective. Pacific Review, 27(1), 123–145. https://doi.org/10.1080/09512748.2013.870223
• Jin Wang, & Dehang Kong. (2019). Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Between China and Central Asian States in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies, 5(1), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2377740019500027
• Kashin, V., & Lukin, A. (2018). Russian‐Chinese Security Cooperation in Asia. Asian Politics & Policy, 10(4), 614–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.12423
• Lukin, A. (2003). The Bear Watches the Dragon: Russia’s Perceptions of China and the Evolution of Russian-Chinese Relations Since the Eighteenth Century : Russia’s Perceptions of China and the Evolution of Russian-Chinese Relations Since the Eighteenth Century. Armonk, N.Y.: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1361008

Authors

• Mazhinskii Stanislav Vitalevich