Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

The Rationale and Effects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Reducing Vulnerabilities in Domestic Political Economy

Lai, Hongyi

The Rationale and Effects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Reducing Vulnerabilities in Domestic Political Economy Thumbnail


Authors

HONGYI LAI HONGYI.LAI@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Associate Professor



Abstract

The existing literature suggests that China launched the belt and road initiative (BRI) in order to stimulate economic growth through infrastructural investment abroad, foster closer economic ties with Eurasia, and counter the US pivot to Asia. In this article, the BRI is interpreted in a deeper context through an analysis of its role in sustaining the economic and political regime in China and in reducing vulnerabilities in domestic political economy. These vulnerabilities include surplus industrial capacity, heavy reliance on energy imports, and under-development of the western region. Post-2012 data suggest that the BRI has partially instead of fully enabled China to ease surplus industrial capacity, secure energy importing routes (especially imports through pipelines), and enhance the economic profile of China's western region.

Citation

Lai, H. (2021). The Rationale and Effects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Reducing Vulnerabilities in Domestic Political Economy. Journal of Contemporary China, 30(128), 330-347. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2020.1790896

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 14, 2020
Online Publication Date Jul 7, 2020
Publication Date Feb 26, 2021
Deposit Date May 16, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Contemporary China
Print ISSN 1067-0564
Electronic ISSN 1469-9400
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 30
Issue 128
Pages 330-347
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2020.1790896
Keywords Political Science and International Relations; Geography, Planning and Development; Development
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4028091
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10670564.2020.1790896
Additional Information This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Contemporary China on 07/07/2020, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10670564.2020.1790896.

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations