ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the role of China and the European Union in shaping transnational norms in the 21st century, drawing on she experience with these parts of the world and her longstanding interest in and work with changing legal cultures. It discusses the concept of transnationalism with an emphasis on the transformation of the global legal landscape and world order. The chapter presents norms of solidarity and harmony focusing on their role in Chinese and European history in this transformation process. It analyses populism, propaganda and fiction, highlighting the role of central actors in spreading the norms of solidarity and harmony across borders. Practices of solidarity were particularly influential in Europe during the industrial era, as were legal expressions of solidarity – increasingly conveyed through welfare policies and legislation. The insecurity caused by globalisation has called harmony, solidarity and populism to the fore at mostly national levels.
