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Perceptions of the EU in India and China

New Junior Research Group Set Up at Freie Universität / Funding from German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Amount of 1.2 Million Euros

№ 355/2010 from Nov 22, 2010

A new junior research group at Freie Universität is investigating perceptions of the European Union in India and China. Under the direction of the political scientist, Dr. May-Britt U. Stumbaum, doctoral students are investigating the political, cultural, and historic factors that influence the perceptions Asian elites, mainly in India and China, have about European security policy. The “Asian Perceptions of the EU” research group is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research for a period of four years with 1.2 million euros. This junior research group from Freie Universität is one of seven in Germany approved for funding in the initiative “External Views of Europe (Europa von Außen gesehen).”

The perceptions that Asians have of the European Union (EU) deviate significantly from the perception held by European decision makers of the EU as a civilian power. Using new approaches within the fields of diffusion studies and policy transfer in the social sciences and humanities, an analysis of these perceptions will be undertaken, based on case studies as well as comparative studies of the key countries, India and China. Through a web-based knowledge management platform, the group is in continuous exchange with researchers and professionals, including politicians, government employees, journalists, and political consultants. In collaboration with research institutes, policy recommendations will be derived from the research and published. In addition, by the end of 2011, interested parties will be able to view the results of the studies through an Internet portal.

Further Information

Dr. May-Britt U. Stumbaum, Head of Junior Research Group “Asian Perceptions of the EU” at Freie Universität Berlin, Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 838-57088, Email: may-britt.stumbaum@fu-berlin.de

Online:

www.polsoz.fu-berlin.de/en/v/transformeurope/Associated_Projects/nfg/index.html