China and the New Silk Road (eBook)

Preface 5
Contents 9
Contributors 12
The New Silk Road—An Overview of the Global Project 14
Preparing the New Silk Road for Regional Development and Exploring a Research Agenda 15
An Introduction to the Belt and Road Initiative 15
The Global Initiative and Regional Impacts 17
Insights from the Academic Discussion on China’s BRI 19
Finding a Theoretical Framework 20
The Aims of This Book Project 22
The New Silk Road—A Strategic Leadership Perspective? 24
References 25
The Origins, Context and Nature of the Belt and Road Initiative 27
References 32
The Belt and Road Initiative: Challenges for China 34
A Radically Different China? 34
Challenges for China 36
Conclusion 39
References 39
The New Silk Road and Europe’s Regions. On the Pros and Cons of Travelling China’s Roads 41
Introduction 41
The Seven Pillars of BRI 42
Six Sets of Motives 43
Creating Political Stability 44
Exporting Technological Dystopia 45
Building Stronger Resilience 46
Make Chinese Champions Global Players 47
Set New Standards to Change the Global System 47
Internationalisation of China’s Currency 48
Central Eastern Europe as the BRI’s Currently Most Important European Region 49
Can You Make It Everywhere? Duisburg’s Ambitious Rise 50
A Productive Bias: China Builds the BRI on Its Own Experience, Not on International Expertise 51
What Europe Needs: A Less Defensive, More Pro-active Approach 53
A Side Effect: Growing Worries About a European and Western Split Over the BRI 55
Conclusion and Outlook: The Many Pros and Cons of the BRI in the View of Europe’s Regions 56
References 57
A Global Phenomenon Explored Through Different Regional Views 61
New Silk Road—A Geo-economic Assessment with a Focus on the European Region 62
Introduction: From the “Old Silk Road” to the “Belt and Road Initiative” 62
Institutions Supporting the NSR—Impressive Financial Clout 63
Some BRI Goals and Challenges: Largely Economic and Geopolitical 65
Constituent Economic Corridors 67
The Silk Road Economic Belt: Trans-Eurasian Overland Connectivity Regaining Some Ground 68
Some Examples of Belt and Road Projects Aimed at Boosting Connectivity with Europe 70
Possible Implications for Europe 73
References 75
The Belt and Road Initiative: How to Bring Inclusive Development to Countries in Eurasia? 77
Introduction 77
Political Dimension 78
Economic Dimension 81
Conclusion 83
References 83
Reconfigurations in Central Asia: Challenges, Opportunities and Risks of China’s Belt and Road Initiative 85
Introduction 85
History of External Influences on Central Asia 86
Changing Infrastructures and Trade Connections 87
Opportunities and Risks for Central Asia 88
Conclusion 91
References 92
China’s New Silk Road Project and the Mobilities Turn: Understanding Power Through Flows 94
Introduction 94
The BRI and Its Multilevel Impacts 95
The Mobilities Theory and the Meaning of Movement 96
Mobile Methods 97
Conclusion: Issues and Agenda for a Mobilities Research on the BRI 98
References 100
The Impact of the New Silk Road on the Mediterranean and on Italy 102
Introduction 102
Issues 103
The Centrality of the Mediterranean 104
Italy and the BRI: Between the Land Route and the Sea Route 106
References 109
Different Viewpoints on Political, Socioeconomic, Cultural and Ecological Impacts of the New Silk Road 110
Environmental Risks, Challenges and Opportunities Along the African Belt and Road Initiative 111
African Belt and Road Initiative 111
Linear Infrastructures as Drivers of Biodiversity Changes 113
Direct Impacts 113
Indirect Impacts 116
Unpredicted Costs 117
Challenges of the African BRI 119
Opportunities Under the African BRI 120
References 122
International Rivers, Flowing on the Belt and Road: Threats and Strategies for Shared Water Resources 127
Introduction 127
International Rivers, Flowing on the “Belt and Road”: Part of Central Asia 128
Cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on River Issues 130
Opportunity and Challenge Under the OBOR Strategy 131
References 133
Possible Ecological and Economic Challenges for Ghana’s “Bauxite for Infrastructure” Deal 134
Introduction 134
The Belt and Road Initiative 135
Ghana and the BRI 135
Ghana’s Bauxite 136
The Sinohydro Deal 137
Bauxite Mining at the Atewa Forest Reserve 138
Social-Economic Risks for Ghana 139
Discussion 139
References 140
The Digital Silk Road: Upgrading the “16+1” Cooperation? 142
The Context of the BRI—Connectivity 142
Digitalization of the BRI 143
Digital Road and the “16+1” Initiative 145
References 149
A Musical Journey Along the Silk Road—Encounter, Discovery and Change 151
Introduction 151
A Musical Journey of Intercultural Encounters 152
A Musical Journey to the Glocalised World 153
A Musical Journey to a Sustainable Intercultural Competence 156
Conclusion 157
References 157
Opportunities and Challenges of BRI for German SMEs: Analyses and Recommendations Based on a Cross-Cultural View 159
Status Quo: BRI Can Be Understood as China’s Long-Term Strategy to Come Back to and Remain at the Centre Stage as a Considerable Global Player 159
A Different Germany Meets a Different China: “Industry 4.0” Versus “Made in China 2025” 160
New Strategy for German SMEs to China Should Be Considered 162
China-Competence in German SMEs is Insufficient 163
Challenging Cross-Cultural Understanding 163
Chinese Culture Differs Strongly with German Culture 164
The Chinese Social System Also Differs from the German System 164
Understanding China’s BRI from the View of Chinese 165
Conclusion and Advices for German SMEs to Get Involved 165
References 166
Tourism Perspectives 168
The Silk Road: Unlocking the Tourism Potential Through Collaboration 169
Introduction 169
Origins and Milestones 169
The Western Silk Road vs. the Classic Silk Road 171
Transnational Routes—Challenges and Benefits 172
The Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) 173
Overall Conclusion 175
References 175
Cross-Border Tourism in the Southern Caucasus—The Silk Road as a Facilitator for Joint Products 177
Cross-Border Tourism as a Strategic Question 177
Opportunities and Challenges of Cross-Border Cooperation 178
Methodology and Cross-Border Tourism in Southern Caucasus 180
Results: Promoters of Cross-Border Tourism in Southern Caucasus 183
Outlook on Cross-Border Tourism Measures Along the Silk Road 186
References 187
Travel Along the New Silk Road: Understanding New Trends in Chinese Outbound Tourism 189
Overview of Recent Chinese Outbound Tourism 190
Who Are the Chinese Outbound Tourists? 190
The Top 10 Destinations Along the New Silk Road: Chinese Tourists’ Behavioural Patterns and Preferences 191
South East Asia 194
Traditional European Destinations 194
North East Africa 195
South East Europe 195
Overview of Chinese Outbound Tourism Along the New Silk Road 196
References 196
Potential Spillover Effects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on Chinese Tourism to Australia: A Marketing Perspective 198
Introduction 198
BRI and Its Effects on Tourism in Southeast Asia and Beyond 199
Spillover Effects of the BRI on Chinese Tourist Arrivals to Australia 202
Marketing Potentials in Southeast Asian BR Countries for Australia 202
Influencing Factors of Chinese Outbound Tourism 203
Lessons Learned from Outbound Chinese Tourism to Southeast Asian BR Countries 204
Recommendations for Tourism Practitioners in Australia 206
Conclusions 207
References 208
The New Silk Road in Slovakia: What Does It Mean for Tourism Development? 211
Introduction 211
Research Methodology 213
Research Findings 213
Impact of the BRI on the Development of Slovakia 214
The Impact of the BRI on Tourism Development in Slovakia 215
Conclusion 217
References 219