Refers to diplomatic efforts to enhance transportation, communication, and other linkages between countries to promote trade, understanding, and cooperation.
Published in Chapter:
China's Belt and Road Initiative: An Instrument for Regional Conflict Mitigation and Global Power Shifts
Mohamad Zreik (School of International Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, China)
Copyright: © 2024
|Pages: 20
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-9467-7.ch005
Abstract
This chapter explores the geopolitical and geoeconomic implications of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a massive project initiated in 2013 that could potentially reshape global power dynamics. The BRI, viewed as a manifestation of China's soft power, holds potential to alleviate international conflicts, foster international collaboration, and expedite global transformations. It aims to strengthen international relations, bolster economies, and instill peace in conflict-ridden regions like the Middle East, Afghanistan, and certain parts of Africa. By broadening infrastructure, generating new economic prospects, and integrating regions, the BRI could herald an era of peace. It also hints at the emergence of a multipolar world with China's increasing influence. By potentially decreasing conflict likelihood and forming new global governance systems, the BRI might enhance economic interdependence and diplomatic relations. This chapter begins a dialogue on how such economic initiatives can mitigate regional turbulence and influence future global order.