Research Papers
Setting on an East-Bound Course? Slovak Political Parties’ Views on China and Russia
The economic and security crisis triggered by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has placed even greater strain on the already fragile trust in Slovak state institutions and the nation’s pro-Western orientation. Both among the general…
“Win Some, Lose Some”: China’s Involvement in the Extractive and Raw Materials Industries in the Western Balkans
China is among the biggest global importers of all the Western Balkans extractive exports. Extractives and raw materials are indispensable for China due to their crucial role in supporting the country’s manufacturing sector, fueling…
China’s Twiplomacy in Europe in the Shadow of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Twitter is one of the key platforms of China’s external communication. In her study, published by CHOICE sister project MapInfluenCE, Veronika Blablová analyzes the activity of Twitter accounts of China’s embassies in European countries during the…
How to Do Trusted Research: China-Specific Guidelines for European Stakeholders
By the middle of this century, China intends to become a technology superpower. In order to achieve this goal, China seeks to acquire foreign technologies to boost its own technological base and enable rapid domestic…
Backing Russia on Ukraine: China’s Messaging in Central and Eastern Europe
A new CHOICE briefing paper analyzes Chinese messaging on the war in Ukraine targeting nine NATO and EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe, i.e., Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia,…
China’s Aid in the Western Balkans: Supporting Development, Undermining Good Governance
In a brand new CHOICE paper, China’s development assistance to all the countries that make up the Western Balkans is put under the microscope. The new study by Ana Krstinovska analyzes the Chinese economic…
The Environmental Impact of Chinese Projects in the Western Balkans
For years now, China has been trying to put a “green” label on its economic engagement under the auspices of its international Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, the reality on the ground has…
China’s ‘Digital Silk Road’ Enters the Western Balkans
The Digital Silk Road (DSR), an important component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is an increasingly scrutinized aspect of China’s foreign policy toolbox that combines the efforts of the Chinese government and…
Careful or Careless? Debating Chinese Investment and 5G Technology in Central Europe
The MapInfluenCE project is pleased to publish a brand-new comparative study, zooming in on media coverage of Chinese investment and Chinese involvement in 5G infrastructure in Czechia, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. The research is a follow-up…
Huawei in Central and Eastern Europe: Trends and Forecast
CHOICE’s latest exclusive report from a team of regional experts across Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia summarizes the ongoing debates on Huawei’s involvement in each of their respective nations, thus formulating…
Foreign Influence Operations: Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic in North Macedonia
A new policy paper by Ana Krstinovska deals with the growing issue of pro-China narratives in Europe, using the case study of North Macedonia. With the COVID-19 crisis serving as a significant catalyst, these…
Limited Welcome: Protecting the Media from Hostile Foreign Influence
A new policy paper by Ivana Karásková and Matej Šimalčík deals with the issue of protecting media from hostile foreign influence. Authors argue that media needs to be seen as a strategic industry. Especially during crises,…