Tracing the links between domestic and external expectations in the Peoples Republic of China's role conception and preferred engagement patterns in world politics, this book provides a systematic account of changes in China's role and the mechanisms of role taking. Individual chapters address the impact of China's history and identity on its bilateral role taking patterns with the United States, Japan, Africa, the Europe Union, and Socialist States as well as China's role in international institutions, the G-20, and East Asia's Financial Order.

Sebastian Harnisch is Professor of Political Science at Heidelberg University. His research focuses on international relations theory and comparative foreign policy analysis, and other topics in security policy.

Sebastian Bersick is Associate-Professor at Fudan University's School of International Relations and Public Affairs as well as Executive Director of the Centre for China-EU Relations, Shanghai. He is also Associate Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations in the China and Asia-Pacific Program. His areas of research cover the political economy of EU-Asia relations.

Jörn-Carsten Gottwald is Professor for East Asian Politics at the Ruhr University Bochum. His research interests cover the politics of regulation of financial services, EU-China relations and Chinese foreign economic policies.

Part I: Theoretical Concepts and China's Role 1. Role theory and the Study of Chinese Foreign Policy Sebastian Harnisch 2. Historical Narrative, Remembrance, and the Ordering of the World: A Historical Assessment of Chinas International Relations Bart Dessein 3. Chinas Historical Self and Its International Role Sebastian Harnisch4. The Identity and International Role of China: Relational Grand Strategy Chih-Yu Shih, Chiung-Chiu Huang 5. Philosophy, Identity and Role Theory with Chinese Characteristics;Chen Yudan Part II: Chinas International Role: The Global Context 6. The United Statesand China: Altercast Roles and Changing Power in the Twentieth Century Cameron G. Thies 7.Chinas Role in the Transformation of International SystemChen Yugang 8. Chinas role in International Institutions: The Case of Global Economic Governance Jörn-Carsten Gottwald 9. Finding a New Role in East Asian Financial Order: Chinas Hesitant Turn towards Leadership Mikko Huotari Part III: Chinas International Role: The Regional Context 10. China and Socialist Countries: Role Change and Role Continuity Nele Noesselt 11. China and Japan: Partner, Rival and Enemy? Sebastian Maslow12.Chinas Changing Role in its All-Weather Friendship with Africa Niall Duggan13.China and the EU: Trade and National Role Conceptions Sebastian Bersick 14.Conclusion: Chinas Role Evolution: Domestic Imperatives and Foreign Expectations