"I believe we live in the times when everybody has an opinion about China, but few understand it."

We spoke with Dr. Monika Prusinowska, who is a Ramón y Cajal Fellow at the University of Barcelona, Spain.  In 2024, she received the prestigious Ramón y Cajal Grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science, awarded to top scientists in their respective fields.  Prior to returning to Europe, she spent nearly a decade working in China.  At the University of Cologne, she collaborates with Dr. Daniel Sprick (Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Chinese Studies) on the Cologne International Forum initiative project, "The Legal Dimension of China’s Presence in Latin America: Opportunities, Risks, and Responses." This project includes, among others, a conference convening researchers and stakeholders from Latin America, China, EU and elsewhere and a collective publication.

Cologne International Forum:
Dear Monika Prusinowska, we are happy to chat with you today. Could you briefly explain your research focus?

Monika Prusinowska:
My work and research perspective has been shaped by nearly a decade of experience in China, where I studied and researched Chinese law and worked both as an academic and a practitioner.  In my research, I concentrate on the intricate legal connections between China and the rest of the world. To the extent I can, I am interested in bridging the gap in terms of understanding between China and the rest of the world, and currently EU in particular. Given my expertise, my focus is on law and surrounding legal infrastructure. I do it also currently within the Cologne International Forum, working with Dr. Daniel Sprick.

I believe we live in the times when everybody has an opinion about China, but few understand it. I am obviously aware of my own limitations of understanding China, but nonetheless I hope I can contribute a bit to decoding the country for a more informed conversation. Concerning the EU specifically, as we now talk in Europe, I believe we need to continuously build related expertise. While we can certainly collaborate with other countries and institutions, I think Europe has its own agenda and a unique case vis-à-vis China and thus needs individual approach.

How did your research and law career evolve, starting from your first degree?

I earned my first law degree from the University of Łódź in Poland, including an exchange at Dresden University in Germany.  After completing my initial master's degree in law, I moved to China and became the first Polish student at Tsinghua University Law School, where I specialized in Chinese law.  I then gained practical experience working at a Chinese law firm. During my time in China, I also advised the Polish Embassy in Beijing and Polish businesses on Chinese law and investment.

Subsequently, I joined the China-EU School of Law, a European Commission and Chinese government initiative promoting legal dialogue between China and EU. Over eight years there, I also completed my PhD in Chinese dispute resolution at the University of Hamburg.  Since returning to Europe in late 2019, I have been supporting European institutions in their attempts to understand China.

When your career started, did you imagine that you would end up in such a unique position, understanding China’s law and politics and fostering dialogue between China and the rest of the world?

Initially, I wasn’t much interested in China as a career path; it was my husband's interest. When he had the opportunity to improve his Mandarin in China, I decided to join him. It was then, right at the beginning of 2011, that we discussed about prospects of me approaching international law from a Chinese perspective, an idea that resonated with me. And just a few months after that, I landed alone in Beijing trying to rent an apartment speaking zero Mandarin in the era before the langauge facilitating apps. This was also a time when relations between China, the EU, and the rest of the world differed significantly from today's landscape.

Over time, I observed that despite increasing interaction in various areas, mutual understanding between China and the world, including the EU, wasn't keeping pace. Recognizing the constant evolution of both China and the world, I felt compelled to contribute to fostering genuine and informed dialogue in this area—a challenge that became my mission.  Now, back in Europe, I continue researching and teaching Chinese law and China's legal interactions globally.

How did your focus evolve towards the Global South, particularly Latin America, which is a key component of your collaborative project with the University of Cologne?

My current home institution, the University of Barcelona, has a strong Latin American connection.  Sharing an office with a Brazilian colleague, and with Argentinian and Chilean colleagues nearby, I've seen firsthand how Barcelona, and Spain more broadly, are uniquely positioned to engage with the region.  My research on China's presence in the Global South revealed a significant gap in expertise on the legal aspects of China-Latin America relations. While political, economic, and social issues are widely discussed, the legal dimension is often overlooked.  Given China's growing influence and the EU's own interests in Latin America, I recognized the increasing importance of this expertise—and where I could contribute. This aligns with my ongoing Master's program focused on Latin America, where China's presence is a recurring theme in nearly every course. Interestingly, many of my fellow students are Chinese, which I find quite telling.

The Cologne project allows us to explore the multifaceted legal dimensions of China's presence in Latin America. This is clearly relevant to the EU, considering China's engagement there and the question of Europe's own offerings to Latin America compared to those of China (and the US).  From the EU perspective, numerous issues arise, including trade, investment, and access to critical minerals essential for the energy transition, just to name a few.

What are the personal challenges you face in this work, particularly when it comes to engaging with diverse stakeholders? How do your language skills in Mandarin and Spanish help with them?

Language skills are essential to my research, providing access to a wider range of resources.  One of the key challenges lies in navigating the complex landscape of diverse actors, narratives, interests, and perspectives. Our task as researchers is to make sense of this complexity, first by understanding the situation and embracing its multifaceted nature, then by distilling it into a coherent message. Critically, our project seeks to foster dialogue among a variety of stakeholders, creating a space for understanding, even if that understanding doesn't necessarily lead to agreement.

How do you tackle these challenges in your project, or are there particular situations that stand out as especially challenging?

Time, patience, and a genuine willingness to understand without rushing to judgment are essential. While Daniel and I are legal scholars, we also recognize the interdisciplinary nature of this work and are eager to embrace it through collaboration and exchange with others. Our long-term goal is to build a hub for researchers in this field. The recent Barcelona conference, generously supported by the Cologne International Forum, confirmed the need for continued work, networking, and dialogue on this topic.

Also, I think that for China scholars, regular visits to China are invaluable. I'm excited to return to Beijing this May and see how the city and country have changed since I left just before the pandemic.

Regarding your collaboration with the Cologne International Forum: What excites you particularly about collaborating with the University of Cologne and is there a specific reason that led you to choose the University of Cologne?

For a scholar of China and Chinese law in Europe, the University of Cologne, is among top destinations thanks to its renowned expertise in the field. The university boasts a diverse faculty, including Daniel Sprick with whom I happy to join forces as well as Björn Ahl who leads the European China Law Studies Association.

In 2021, I visited Cologne to explore potential collaborations between the University of Barcelona and the University of Cologne.  My subsequent discussions with Daniel after my 2022 Helsinki presentation on China's presence in Latin America confirmed our shared interest in the topic, and our collaboration began organically from there.

If you narrow it down—both the project and your personal involvement—how do you reflect on your role in this whole agenda?

As I mentioned earlier, I see my professional mission as building bridges, particularly on legal issues, between China and the rest of the world. This naturally requires more than just a legal perspective; it demands an understanding of culture, behavior, politics, and much more.  This ongoing exploration is enriching, teaching me something new every day. Sharing my understanding is the contribution that I hope to make to foster informed dialogue.

I always tell my students in our first China-related class that my goal isn't to make them either "panda huggers" or "dragon slayers," but rather to equip them with a deeper understanding of China so they can form their own informed opinions and engage in more productive conversations.

Thank you!