Europe’s Differing Perceptions of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The Belt Road Initiative is grand multinational project devised by China to advance globalization and barrier-free trade. Marketed as “The New Silk Road”, this initiative goes against traditionally muted foreign policy of the Communist Party of China and will serve to transform the entire face of Central Asia, Africa, and Europe. The project is unique as it has potential to be the world’s largest platform for regional collaboration, rivaling that of the Marshall Plan during the 1950s except twelve times bigger. Yet despite its huge potential for changing the course of international affairs, very little attention has been given to it within western academic and political fields. As such, this working paper specifically looks into the current economic, regional, and normative perceptions of the Belt and Road Initiative on the future of Europe. It performs a case-by-case analysis of France and Poland’s current political and academic understanding of these initiatives and will compare their interpretations of the perceived costs and benefits in relation to their independent state interests.

Faculty Supervisor:

Crina Viju

Student:

Partner:

Shanghai International Studies University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public Service, Policy, and Governance; Finance and Insurance; Other

University:

Carleton University

Program: