Η πρωτοβουλία της Κίνας για το δρόμο του μεταξιού: γεωπολιτικές και γεωοικονομικές επιπτώσεις

Abstract

This paper constitutes a postgraduate thesis on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), originally announced in 2013, constituting China’s ambitious project in order to appease internal turbulences and claim its position not only as regional leader in Asia, but also as a global superpower. The purpose of the BRI is the execution of infrastructure projects to ensure interconnectivity and is comprised of two parts, the Economic Zone and the Maritime Road. The BRI’s nature is inherently versatile so as to include as many countries and projects as possible. This thesis examines the origins of the BRI through the lens of China’s history and geography and through the personality of its current central leader, namely President Xi Jinping. It further focuses on BRI’s multifaceted targets, economic and geopolitical, internal and international. China is cautiously promoting the Initiative, reassuring all participant countries that all (including itself) will benefit from a win – win cooperation. China, also, asserts that the Initiative’s scope and stipulated criteria are purely economic, thus confirming the country’s adherence to the principle of peaceful development rejecting any notions of expansionism. Nevertheless, the geopolitical and geo-economics implications of the BRI cannot be overlooked by other countries, especially the bigger players such as USA, EU and Russia. This thesis aims to trigger a deeper and fuller understanding of their reactions and concerns towards the Initiative, as well as the strategic partnership between China and Greece in the context of the BRI. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the course of BRI and an assessment of its impact as either a gamechanger to the global balances in the long run or just a grandiose fantasy of China that cannot be achieved on the bases of its objective capabilities.