The intensifying rivalry between the United States (US) and China has become the defining feature of great power politics in the early 21st century. As the United States and China strive to bring different countries and regions on side or deny them to the other side, the question of how to grapple with intensifying US-China competition has become central for virtually any actor and region in the international system. Because of its economic, technological and diplomatic heft, Europe is an important playground in US-China competition. Yet, the European Union (EU) and its member states have sought to pursue greater “strategic autonomy”, while rejecting the notion of equidistance between Washington and Beijing. Against this backdrop, the project on Europe in US-China Rivalry will zoom in on the following research questions and themes:

– How do external actors seek to influence European policies? What specific strategies are utilised by the United States and China concretely, and in what ways do such strategies differ?

– How do intra-European dynamics influence European strategic autonomy? How does Franco-German convergence/divergence and the role of EU institutions like the European Commission play out in this regard?

– To what extent and under what circumstances external or internal actors have the upper hand in informing European policy choices in a context of intensifying U.S.-China competition, particularly in areas like trade and investment; technology and infrastructure; and foreign and security policy?

The project will run between January 2023 and January 2028, and will lead to several academic workshops, publications and conferences.