Helmut-Schmidt-University
Bulding H1
Holstenhofweg 85
22043 Hamburg
Consultation hours on request
Helmut-Schmidt-University
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Modern History
Postbox 70 08 22
22008 Hamburg
Stefan Messingschlager is a research associate at the Chair of Modern History at Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg. His research centers on the history of Sino-German relations in the 20th century and the history of the People’s Republic of China since the 1970s. He regularly publishes articles in academic journals in German, English, and Mandarin.
After studying History and Political Science at the University of Konstanz and Peking University, he began his doctoral studies on the political and intellectual history of Sino-German relations in the 20th century. His dissertation examines China Expertise in the Federal Republic of Germany from the 1960s to the 1980s, focusing on discursive mediation and (political) consultancy provided by journalists, scholars, business professionals, and diplomats regarding the “Black Box China”. Through numerous case studies, he demonstrates that these actors formed an epistemic community whose advisory and mediatory practices, along with the internal and external attribution of China expertise, form a crucial foundation for understanding Sino-German relations after 1949.
In September 2024, as part of his research, Stefan Messingschlager co-organized an interdisciplinary conference with two colleagues, funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation and the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg. The conference explored the heuristic value of expertise using case studies from the 20th century.
In addition to his academic work, Messingschlager actively engages in the public discourse on Sino-German relations through interviews and commentaries (including appearances on Tagesschau, NDR, and WDR) and has advised German federal institutions on China policy since 2022. He is a member of various professional associations, a recipient of multiple scholarships, and has extensive international experience. Since 2020, he has also served as a volunteer on selection committees of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation, including for the China Scholarship Program.
Curriculum Vitae
Since February 2019
Research Associate at the Chair of Modern History, Helmut Schmidt University
Education: B.A. and M.A. in History and Political Science at the University of Konstanz and Peking University (北京大学)
Research Focus: History of Sino-Western relations in the 20th century, of China Expertise in the Federal Republic of Germany, History of China’s rise since the 1960s, methodological discourses in the history of ideas and knowledge
Research Project: History of China Expertise in the Federal Republic of Germany (1960s to 1980s)
Selected Publications
academia.edu-Profile
(Peer Review-) Articles and other Papers
– Von Besuchsdiplomatie, Sozialistischem Realismus und Eigenwilligkeit: China-Perzeption und China-Deutung des Künstlers Gustav Seitz in der jungen DDR (1950-1953), in: Berliner China-Hefte – Chinese History and Society 56 (2024), pp. 133-156.
[written in German; title in English: On Diplomatic Visits, Socialist Realism, and Individuality: The Perception and Interpretation of China by the Artist Gustav Seitz in the Early GDR (1950-1953)]
– Zur neueren Militärgeschichte Chinas als Forschungsgebiet: Bestandsaufnahme und Perspektiven, in: Militärgeschichtliche Zeitschrift 83/1 (2024), pp. 133-148.
[written in German; title in English: Modern Chinese Military History as a Field of Research: State of the Field and Perspectives]
– China Competence and China Expertise: Some Conceptual and Analytical Reflections, in: Zeitgeschichte-online, May 2024, URL: https://zeitgeschichte-online.de/themen/china-competence-and-china-expertise.
– 汉学家傅吾康：研究者与中西文化桥梁，载于：柏林国家图书馆，2024年8月，可访问：https://themen.crossasia.org/franke/?lang=zh-hans，DOI: https://doi.org/10.48796/20240822-000。[written in Mandarin]
– The Sinologist Wolfgang Franke as Researcher and Cultural Broker, in: CrossAsia Thematic Portals of the Berlin State Library (2024), available online: https://themen.crossasia.org/franke/?lang=en, DOI: https://doi.org/10.48796/20240806-000.
– Gustav Seitz’ „Studienblätter aus China“ (1953). Eine China-Reise und die DDR-Zensur, in: Arbeit – Bewegung – Geschichte. Zeitschrift für historische Studien 2024/II, pp. 105-111. [written in German; titel in English: Gustav Seitz’s “Studienblätter aus China” (1953): A Journey to China and GDR Censorship]
– German Strategy on China – A Critical Appraisal/ 德国对中国战略的批判性评估, in: ASIEN. The German Journal on Contemporary Asia 166/ 167 (Januar/ April 2023), pp. 140-151.
– David Armitages Genealogie des Bürgerkriegs: Eine kritische Würdigung, in: Die Friedens-Warte. Journal of International Peace and Organization 96/1-4 (2023), pp. 238-246.
[written in German; title in English: David Armitage’s Genealogy of Civil War: A Critical Appraisal]
Book Reviews and Review Articles for several journals
among others for: Arbeit – Bewegung – Geschichte. Zeitschrift für historische Studien, Archiv für Kulturgeschichte, Archiv für Sozialgeschichte, ASIEN. The German Journal on Contemporary Asia, Berliner China-Hefte – Chinese History and Society, Comparativ. Zeitschrift für Globalgeschichte und vergleichende Gesellschaftsforschung, European History Quarterly, European Review of History: Revue européenne d’histoire, Global Intellectual History, Historisch-Politisches Buch, International Studies Review, International Quarterly for Asian Studies, Journal of the European Association for Chinese Studies, Militärgeschichtliche Zeitschrift, Neue Politische Literatur. Berichte aus Geschichts- und Politikwissenschaft, Politische Vierteljahrsschrift, SIRIUS – Zeitschrift für Strategische Analysen, The Economic History Review, Totalitarismus und Demokratie. Zeitschrift für Internationale Diktatur- und Freiheitsforschung, Vierteljahrschrift für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte, Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft
Public Outreach
– „Pekingologie und wissenschaftliche China-Expertise in Deutschland nach 1949: Zur Scharnierfunktion des Sinologen Wolfgang Franke (1912–2007)“ – Lecture at the Berlin State Library as part of the CrossAsia Talk series (November 2024).
– “China und die Neuordnung der Welt. Eine Buchbesprechung“ – Book Discussion with Sinologist Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik on China as a great power in the 20th and 21st centuries, WebTalk ChinaPlus by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (September 4, 2024).
– „Zur Rolle Europas im geopolitischen Konflikt zwischen den USA und China“ – Guest appearance on WDR 5 Politikum – Der Meinungspodcast on November 15, 2023. Available at: https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/wdr-5-politikum/46798088/.
– „Die deutsche China-Strategie – Spotlight Asia Live“ – Guest appearance at the Polis 180 think tank on August 9, 2023. Available at: https://polis180.org/events/9-aug-die-deutsche-china-strategie-spotlight-asia-live/.
– „Deutscher China-Kurs – wie viel Wandel ist nötig?“ – Guest appearance on Redezeit by NDR Info on April 18, 2023. Available at: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/epg/Deutscher-China-Kurs-wie-viel-Wandel-ist-noetig,sendung1341970.html.
– „Deutsche Chinapolitik: Was ist die richtige Balance?“ – Interview with tagesschau.de. Available at: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/schleswigholstein/ndr-deutsche-chinapolitik-was-ist-die-richtige-balance-100.html.
Letzte Änderung: 23. January 2025