ABSTRACT
If the concept of the ‘West’ still has meaning in the post-Cold War era, then we would expect close parallels in the approach of the European Union (EU) – including its individual member states – and the United States to China’s resurgence in global society. Indeed, study of a list of issues that are either covered in their respective ‘Strategic Dialogues’ with Beijing, or form part of a more general discussion that relates to China’s growing power and impact on the global system does show a similarity in concerns. US and European governments both emphasize their desire to integrate China into global norms that Beijing had little part in creating, but from which it has apparently benefited. In broad terms, they both want China to identify itself as a status quo power that operates as stakeholder (or ‘partner’ as China prefers to term it) in the current world order. In respect of the global economic crisis, they also want China to shoulder more of the responsibilities for ameliorating its effects. Both hope for political liberalization inside China. Who would disagree, either in European capitals or in Washington, that their respective policies towards Beijing should be designed to encourage respect for human rights and the rule of law, to promote democracy, to prevent or manage conflict, and to sustain an open economic system?
