Shipowners, ports and diplomats: the political economy of Greece’s relations with China

Huliaras, Asteris; Petropoulos, Sotiris

doi:10.1007/s10308-013-0367-1

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Kuka, Serbia and Fincantieri were following their own agendaas were the Greek shipowning elite and the Greek government. Greek shipowners promoted the idea of COSCO's presence in Piraeus to both sides, lobbying the Greek government in favour of the 2008 Concession and playing a crucial role in its successful conclusion 57 . The appeal of Piraeus for COSCO increased due to the active support by this key constituency, who were clients of Chinese shipyards and banks 58 , and trusted providers of services for COSCO and other Chinese companies 59 .…”

Section: Pillar 1: Centralising Agencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Narrating the China Threat: Securitising Chinese Economic Presence in Europe

Rogelja¹,

Tsimonis²

2020

The Chinese Journal of International Politics

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This article unpacks the discursive construction of a European ‘China Threat’ narrative by European think tanks. We theorise think tanks as crucial actors in the securitising process, especially at the initial stages where ideas and reference frames are formed. Despite having no decision-making authority, think tanks participate as securitising actors in the process of idea formation and bidding, articulating a securitised frame of reference for policy makers. In the case of EU–China relations, we observe an emerging congruence between think tanks and policy makers that engage in a non-linear construction of a ‘China Threat’ policy frame. In this article, we review key think tank reports that are circulated through official EU policy channels and deconstruct the assumptions behind the ‘China Threat’ discourse. We first argue that, analytically, their securitising attempt is characterised by a distorted representation of Chinese economic activities abroad, including those falling under the Belt and Road Initiative. Second, politically, this narrative produces a distorted notion of European politics where pluralism is weakness and disagreement dissent, promoting a view of the EU where ‘responsible’ core countries must contain the periphery’s ‘opportunism’. Third, we contend that despite defending ‘Europeanness’ as the epitome of human rights and democracy, the securitisation of Chinese FDI rests on othering practices that risk undermining those very ideals. By identifying the problematic undertones of this securitising effort, we call for a fact-based and pluralistic debate on the challenges of Chinese investment and financing for European economies and societies.

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Section: Pillar 1: Centralising Agencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Narrating the China Threat: Securitising Chinese Economic Presence in Europe

Rogelja¹,

Tsimonis²

2020

The Chinese Journal of International Politics

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“…The systematic cultivation of two relationships reflects this emphasis on economic issues: Greece's rapprochement with China (Huliaras & Petropoulos 2014) and the relationship with the Gulf States examined in this paper. In both cases, the ties developed within the last decade have almost a dominant, if not exclusive, economic dimension.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In While foreign policy concerns such as the Cyprus problem, relations with Turkey, and disputes about the name of FYROM remain at the centre of Greece's diplomatic efforts, increasingly it is economic diplomacy that is taking precedence. In order for Greece to have any chance of success, be it in its overtures to the GCC or its own recent rapprochement to China (Huliaras & Petropoulos 2014), it will clearly need to re-organize internally (institutionally first and foremost), to set clear rules and goals for attracting foreign investment, and to systematically explore export opportunities abroad. Without a clear plan and an institutional overhaul, outcomes will be haphazard, and economic relations will continue to be based on individual ties and single projects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Looking for an Oasis of Support: Greece and the Gulf States

Huliaras

Kalantzakos

2016

Foreign Policy Under Austerity

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“…Those researchers take for granted that investment by a Chinese SOE must serve the political agenda of the national government (Godement, Parelle-Plessner, & Richard, 2011). Few studies analyse it from the perspective of Greek demand for development (Huliaras & Petropoulos, 2014;Psaraftis & Pallis, 2012). This case has also received attention in China.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategic decisions in Chinese state-owned enterprises as outcome of the sensemaking of the CEO: the case of COSCO’s emerging involvement in the Port of Piraeus

Ma¹,

Peverelli²

2019

Transnational Corporations Review

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This paper takes China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO)'s investment in the Piraeus Port as a case study to explore the development of the sensemaking of its CEOs in taking key strategic decisions. The extant literature assumes that decisions by CEOs of Chinese state own enterprises are informed by the interests of the State. This paper employs social constructionist organisation theory to investigate COSCO's then CEO Wei Jiafu's social interaction with various Chinese and Greek stakeholders from his multiple social identities in the Chinese corporate and political realms. It shows that the synergy of these identities was a driving factor behind the first encounters between Mr Wei and the Greek government officials and behind the initiation of the idea to invest in Piraeus during those first encounters. The following encounters gradually enlarged the critical mass of supporters for the investment, ending in the signing of the agreement.

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Shipowners, ports and diplomats: the political economy of Greece’s relations with China

Cited by 10 publications

References 26 publications

Narrating the China Threat: Securitising Chinese Economic Presence in Europe

Narrating the China Threat: Securitising Chinese Economic Presence in Europe

Looking for an Oasis of Support: Greece and the Gulf States

Strategic decisions in Chinese state-owned enterprises as outcome of the sensemaking of the CEO: the case of COSCO’s emerging involvement in the Port of Piraeus

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