Abstract
Chapter 5 maps the efforts of academics in the Czech Republic that came as a response to China's assertive policy of converting yet another former adversary into its ally. Leading China scholars in the Czech Republic stand up against what they perceive as a threat to their country' interests. They challenge the expectation presented by the Czech government, president as well as some elite businesspeople that the new policy will benefit most citizens. Using the concepts of epistemic community and trust, the chapter looks at the perceptions of Czech experts on China and their initiatives directed at influencing public opinion and policymaking. It concludes that, because of this critical discourse, China's reputation in the Czech Republic has been among the worst in Europe. Data, specifically collected for this chapter, include in-depth personal interviews with ten Czech academics from three think tanks (Sinopsis, AMO and Sinoskop) completed using the card sort method and a review of studies on Czech relations with China. The chapter moreover triangulates information from public opinion surveys, media and Czech government policy documents.
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