A Comparative Analysis of the Three Dimensions Of China’s Belt and Road Initiative Through Classical Geopolitical Theories

Abstract

The Belt Road Initiative (BRI) is an infrastructure project launched by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) designed to increase connectivity across the world through the construction of ports, airports, railways, highways, and industrial and technological hubs. Although they are absent in its official documents and statements, Beijing has certain geopolitical expectations from the efficient execution of the project. Beijing expects that the BRI will promote the current status of the PRC in global politics and the national security of China through securing China’s international trade and energy transportation lines. Additionally, the massive amount of Chinese investment, which is estimated to reach 4 trillion RMB in the final stage of BRI, is expected to create asymmetric relations between Beijing and receiving countries, and those relations will provide leverage for the PRC in its forward policy. This thesis argues that classical geopolitics provides a well-founded instrument for analysing the three dimensions of the BRI, namely the maritime Silk Road, the Polar Silk Road, and the Silk Road Economic Belt, in a comparative manner. In doing so, the thesis attempts to provide useful insights in terms of assessing whether BRI will yield the desired geopolitical consequences for the PRC.