Redéfinir la relation de l'Europe et de la Chine après 1945: les organisations économiques britanniques à la recherche d'échanges commerciaux "politiquement corrects" (1952-1963)

The image of China in the 1950s – 1960s is that of a country only active within the diplomatic and economic framework of the Soviet Bloc, ousted by US and its allies because of Cold War dynamics. In fact, the article shows that Mao’s China was never completely closed, one important medium being trade with non-Communist Europe. Foreign commerce enjoyed relative independence from domestic politics thanks to the pragmatic view of several leaders and to the day-to-day operations performed by officials who had an expertise in market economics. The article further describes the complexities met by Western European companies desiring to trade with Red China. In the British case, evidence shows that business associations joined hands with the government to avoid excessive political involvement.