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Journal ArticleDOI

Westward ho—the China dream and ‘one belt, one road’: Chinese foreign policy under Xi Jinping

01 Jul 2016-International Affairs (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd)-Vol. 92, Iss: 4, pp 941-957
TL;DR: For example, the one belt, one road (one-one-road) initiative as discussed by the authors aims to expand land and maritime transport links between China and Europe, and if successful, it will transform economic relations across large parts of Eurasia.
Abstract: China's domestic politics and foreign policy have evolved considerably under President Xi Jinping. Domestically the regime has actively promoted the idea of the ‘China dream’ to restore optimism and enthusiasm about its future, particularly among young people. Yet it has also sought to differentiate the socialist China dream from any resemblance to the American dream. Its main emphasis is on making China ‘strong and powerful’ again. In foreign policy, the leadership has become more active. While China has pursued a more robust policy in the South China Sea, it has also launched two extremely ambitious long-term projects to expand land and maritime transport links between China and Europe, termed the ‘one belt, one road’ initiative. They aim to promote development of western China, but if successful, they should also help to transform economic relations across large parts of Eurasia. In geopolitical terms, they will expand China's shadow over regions of the world where hitherto its presence has been relatively modest. They should strengthen links with Europe, as well as with other countries along the routes, to counterbalance potentially conflictual relations with the US. However, success will require active and enthusiastic cooperation from many neighbours. For that reason the risks are as great as the ambition.

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Journal ArticleDOI
Michael A. Witt1
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce two relevant theories of de-globalization from political science, liberalism and realism, and discuss the resulting opportunities in three areas of IB research: political strategies and roles of multinational enterprises (MNEs), global value chains, and the role of the national context.
Abstract: De-globalization, now a distinct possibility, would induce a significant qualitative shift in strategies, structures, and behaviors observable in international business (IB). Coming to terms with this qualitative shift would require IB research to develop a much deeper integration of politics, the key driver of de-globalization. To support such integration, this paper introduces two relevant theories of (de-)globalization from political science, liberalism and realism. Both predict de-globalization under current conditions but lead to different expectations about the future world economy: liberalism suggests a patchwork of economic linkages, while realism predicts the emergence of economic blocs around major countries. This paper discusses the resulting opportunities in three areas of IB research: political strategies and roles of multinational enterprises (MNEs), global value chains, and the role of the national context. For political strategies and roles, there is a need to explore how regular business activities and deliberate political agency of MNEs affect the political sustainability of globalization. For value chains, questions include their future reach and specialization, changes in organizational forms, and the impact of political considerations on location decisions. Research opportunities on national contexts relate to their ability to sustain globalization and their connection with economic and military power.

243 citations


Cites background from "Westward ho—the China dream and ‘on..."

  • ...The involvement of Chinese MNEs in the One Belt One Road initiative (also known as Belt and Road Initiative), which is as much a geopolitical as an economic project (Ferdinand, 2016), may be a current, large-scale example of Chinese MNEs serving state interests....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce a special section focusing specifically on the geopolitics of the MSRI that stems from a workshop hosted in November 2015 in Shanghai, along with a summary of the current literature discussing the project, and dominant geopolitical representations.
Abstract: China’s “One Belt, One Road” project is comprised of two components: the Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) and the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB)—that were announced separately in 2013. Each component has the potential to transform the global geopolitical landscape through the construction of interrelated infrastructure projects including ports, highways, railways and pipelines. Such hard infrastructure requires the complementary construction of soft infrastructure, such as free trade and investment agreements, and other accords. We introduce a special section focusing specifically on the geopolitics of the MSRI that stems from a workshop hosted in November 2015 in Shanghai. The origins, scope and content of the MSRI are described, along with a summary of the current literature discussing the project, and dominant geopolitical representations. The MSRI is a geopolitical project that involves a number of actors (governments, private companies and Chinese state-owned enterprises) at a number of g...

212 citations


Cites background from "Westward ho—the China dream and ‘on..."

  • ...Instead, the MSRI is represented as a project that would boost world trade and benefit all the countries directly involved and the world economy in general.(59) Interestingly, a comparison could be made with the United States between the two world wars and China’s promotion of the MSRI....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper reviewed Chinese-language writings on the ideas of a Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road that have proliferated in the last few years, now under the aegis of and visualized a...
Abstract: This article reviews Chinese-language writings on the ideas of a Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road that have proliferated in the last few years, now under the aegis of and visualized a...

146 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
15 Sep 2017-Science
TL;DR: Four years ago, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in an effort to lead globalization and regional economic cooperation with countries situated along the land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the oceangoing “Maritime Silk Road.”
Abstract: Four years ago, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in an effort to lead globalization and regional economic cooperation with countries situated along the land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the oceangoing “Maritime Silk Road.” The initiative promotes trade between China and

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TL;DR: Blockchain – also known as distributed ledger – technology is set to revolutionise data and business process management and transactions.
Abstract: Blockchain – also known as distributed ledger – technology is set to revolutionise data and business process management and transactions. Blockchain adoption, pioneered initially as a financial tec...

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Cites background from "Westward ho—the China dream and ‘on..."

  • ...Major globally impactful transitions such as One Belt-One Road led by China (Ferdinand 2016), increasing importance of airport resilience and operational efficiency (Rotondo 2019), Brexit – Global Britain (Tielmann and Schiereck 2017; Toly 2017), Shift2Rail (shift2rail.org), and other broad socio-economic transitions also relate to technological evolution of blockchains....

    [...]

  • ...Major globally impactful transitions such as One Belt-One Road led by China (Ferdinand 2016), increasing importance of airport resilience and operational efficiency (Rotondo 2019), Brexit – Global Britain (Tielmann and Schiereck 2017; Toly 2017), Shift2Rail (shift2rail....

    [...]

  • ...Major globally impactful transitions such as One Belt-One Road led by China (Ferdinand 2016), increasing importance of airport resilience and operational efficiency (Rotondo 2019), Brexit – Global Britain (Tielmann and Schiereck 2017; Toly 2017), Shift2Rail (shift2rail.org), and other broad…...

    [...]

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors assesses the rise of China by exploring a number of recent popular Chinese political texts to go beyond explanations that take the international system as the level of analysis, and propose that a merging of nationalism and geopolitical thinking is taking place, resulting in the emergence of a new form of nationalism that can be categorised as "geopolitik nationalism" because it deploys many of the themes evident in the political thought of Germany and Japan before the two world wars.
Abstract: This article assesses the rise of China by exploring a number of recent popular Chinese political texts to go beyond explanations that take the international system as the level of analysis. It proposes that a merging of nationalism and geopolitical thinking is taking place, resulting in the emergence of a new form of nationalism that can be categorised as ‘geopolitik nationalism’ because it deploys many of the themes evident in the political thought of Germany and Japan before the two world wars. By considering the impact of such ideas, it is possible to gain new insights into recent assertive actions in Chinese foreign policy.

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Journal ArticleDOI
22 Feb 2018-BMJ
TL;DR: Promise or peril for health, development, and human rights?
Abstract: The "New" Silk Road - the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - is China's grand idea for the 21st century, promising to transform international development assistance for health. Named after the ancient network of terrestrial and maritime routes, BRI represents a massive USD $1 trillion investment in trade and cultural exchange, stretching through Eurasia and connecting to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Flynn Murphy's Feature reveals glaring global tensions about BRIs impact-will China forge a new paradigm for global health or is BRI a modern form of colonialism? What are BRI's promises and perils, and how could China reform BRI to genuinely advance the right to health?

44 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the strategic implications of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) strategic implications for India are examined, and the implications need to be considered within the framework of the future development of the China...
Abstract: This article examines One Belt One Road (OBOR) strategic implications for India. It is argued that the implications need to be considered within the framework of the future development of the China...

42 citations

25 Sep 2015

15 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The central thesis of this polemical book (that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has a long-term secret plan to replace the USA as the global hegemon) immediately reminds one of a number of oth...
Abstract: The central thesis of this polemical book (that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has a long-term secret plan to replace the USA as the global hegemon) immediately reminds one of a number of oth...

6 citations