ABSTRACT

This book examines the progress and reception of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in key subregions of Asia, Africa and Europe.

Through its exploration of the patchwork of distinctive sub regions of each continent, the book analyses how well the BRI accommodates sub regional variation as it attempts to integrate Asia, Africa, and Europe under Chinese auspices. Individual chapters focus on how developing subregions experience BRI relations with China, while others focus on how liberal powers seek to compete with China’s BRI agenda. The contributions also gauge the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the BRI in regional settings and point to its future implications.

Offering a panoramic view of the vast mosaic of Asian, African, and European sub regions targeted by the BRI, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of International Relations and Global Political Economy as well as Chinese politics and those with an interest in the Belt and Road Initiative more broadly.

part I|29 pages

Introduction

part II|94 pages

BRI in Asia

chapter 2|17 pages

South Korea's response to the BRI

Hedging amidst change and continuity in the international system

chapter 3|16 pages

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Interactions and impact before and after COVID-19

chapter 4|12 pages

Slippery road ahead

BRI, China, and Southeast Asia amid COVID-19 pandemic

chapter 5|12 pages

Patterns of China's BRI ingress in South Asia

Implications for regional order

part IV|82 pages

BRI in Africa

part VI|22 pages

Conclusion