Book Presentation: Scientific Expertise and Political Power in Chinese Foreign Policy
On November 24, 2025, the IFSH Berlin Office hosted the presentation and subsequent discussion of the recently published book Chinese Scholars and Think Tanks’ Constructions of China’s National Interest – Hidden Hand on Demand. In this work, IFSH researcher and author Dr. Sabine Mokry provides a nuanced perspective on the often opaque foreign policy decision-making processes of the People’s Republic of China.
Expertise as Political Currency
At the beginning of her presentation, Dr. Sabine Mokry outlined the core argument of her book: the influence of Chinese scholars and think tanks on China’s foreign policy depends both on their proximity to the party-state and on the government’s demand for expertise on specific issues. This dynamic, she explained, means that less party-aligned voices can gain influence at times, while well-established pro-state experts may lose prominence in other phases. By systematically situating experts’ statements within their institutional and political context, the book contributes to a more refined understanding of how China’s foreign policy decisions are shaped.
Practical Relevance for China Analysis and Policy Advice
Guest expert Dr. Angela Stanzel from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) praised the book’s comprehensive analysis as a valuable tool for correctly assessing the relevance of Chinese interlocutors. She stressed that access to Chinese experts has become increasingly limited in recent years, which makes the findings particularly relevant for future China analysts in Germany and beyond. The book also provides important insights into how the Chinese party-state deliberately sends signals abroad through its network of experts.
Shaping Dialogue in Complex Systems
In the ensuing discussion, moderator Dr. Matthias Schulze, commentator Dr. Angela Stanzel, and author Dr. Sabine Mokry engaged in an in-depth exchange about how the book’s findings could inform Germany’s China policy and guide German institutions’ engagement with Chinese partners. It became clear that China’s foreign policy rhetoric is more than mere propaganda. Those who carefully track how concepts and priorities shift in official texts can detect potential policy changes at an early stage. Moreover, the role of Chinese experts in political decision-making remains crucial. Understanding who speaks for Beijing, participants concluded, always requires attention to institutional context.
The participants, primarily from foundations, think tanks, and academic institutions, took the opportunity for an in-depth professional exchange during the event.
Further information about the book can be found here.
