Edited by David M. Arase
and
Pedro Miguel Amakasu Raposo de Medeiras Carvalho
We are proud to announce the publication of a new book which was co- edited by one of our own, Prof. Pedro Miguel Amakasu Raposo de Medeiras Carvalho of Kansai University, Head of our Kansai Office, and Journal Editor.
A Brief Note
This collection of 17 chapters epitomizes the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a determination to shape the post-World War II governance system towards a new international relations order with Chinese characteristics. Chinese foreign policy set the BRI agenda beyond diplomatic framework to include every policy instrument possible, to expand China’s political, economic, commercial, social, culture, financial, and development influence across the five continents, and to make the Chinese Dream happen by 2049.
Chapter authors are international relations scholars covering specific sub-regions within their fields of expertise. Each one evaluates the BRI agenda to understand the overall impact of the project on Northeast Asia (South Korea), Southeast Asia (ASEAN), South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Iran, Central and Eastern Europe (EU) and Africa (Eastern Africa).
This book offers a timeline of scholarly assessment of the impact of BRI on Asia, Europe, Africa, and Middle East key sub-regions before and in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Conceptually, it provides a clear understanding of the BRI narrative, concepts, principles, regional features, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, financial, development, and institutional mechanisms regarding the initiative’s diplomatic agenda.
Important topics in the book relate to the Chinese Dream of Global Rejuvenation in terms of how the BRI is helping China to build a global influence aimed at replacing the Western post-World War II global governance system with a new International Relations order with Chinese socialist characteristics. It awakens the reader to the reality of one country, one nation, one man shaping the 21st century international relations. It also elucidates the tensions already resulting from China’s ascension to World status, both at the local, institutional, and state levels.
Other topics, no less important, relate to Chinese foreign policy, diplomatic interactions, strategic goals, economic, trade and development competition and rivalries reflected in the anxiety of both Western countries and the global south. Other preponderant topics are Africa Agenda 2063, structural transformation, strategic development partnerships, regional trade networks, labour rights, and contested and opposed norms and values between China and liberal Western countries at large. They also include Chinese ambiguity and inconsistency between the BRI principles and its “realpolitik” foreign policy agenda.
Comments