The Ambiguity in China-West Relations
When an autocratic state calls for democracy, rule of law, and sovereignty, something just does not add up to Westerners. For the West to better understand contemporary China and its government’s underlying values, understanding China’s interpretation of those three elements should be a priority.
The Authoritarian Regime as China’s Top Export
China’s global prominence is not only because it is the largest provider of commodities and manufactured goods. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been equally successful in terms of politics and diplomacy, and it manages to do so by selling its authoritarian model across the globe. Whereas developing and fragile states are more susceptible to it, also Western democracies have been receiving these implicit totalitarian elements.
The Egyptian Regime and its controversial relations with France and Italy
The award ceremony in France, when Egyptian president Al-Sisi was given the Legion d’honneur caused a great stir in the international community and in particular in the Italian academic environment. The ceremony represents the hypocritical positions taken by Italy and France in their relationships with Egypt in the light of the recent events.
