The challenge of implementing the belt and road initiative in the middle east: Connectivity projects under conditions of limited political engagement

Yoram Evron

doi:10.1017/S0305741018001273

The challenge of implementing the belt and road initiative in the middle east: Connectivity projects under conditions of limited political engagement

Yoram Evron

Department of Asian Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Sceptics query China's economic and political ability to realize its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Less attention has been paid to BRI's implications for one of the defining features of China's foreign policy: Low engagement in areas beyond its traditional sphere of influence. The Middle East is such a case. Addressing this issue, the article explores the mutual impact of China's low political involvement in the Middle East and BRI's realization. Distinguishing cross-border connectivity projects from other BRI-associated activities, the article examines the challenges to executing BRI-related projects in Israel. It finds that realizing connectivity projects-the essence of the BRI vision-will require China to increase its regional engagement, a shift that it has so far avoided.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	196-216
Number of pages	21
Journal	China Quarterly
Volume	237
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0305741018001273
State	Published - 1 Mar 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 SOAS University of London.

Keywords

BRI
China
Economic Diplomacy
Israel
Middle East
OBOR

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development
Development
Political Science and International Relations

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1017/S0305741018001273

Cite this

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AB - Sceptics query China's economic and political ability to realize its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Less attention has been paid to BRI's implications for one of the defining features of China's foreign policy: Low engagement in areas beyond its traditional sphere of influence. The Middle East is such a case. Addressing this issue, the article explores the mutual impact of China's low political involvement in the Middle East and BRI's realization. Distinguishing cross-border connectivity projects from other BRI-associated activities, the article examines the challenges to executing BRI-related projects in Israel. It finds that realizing connectivity projects-the essence of the BRI vision-will require China to increase its regional engagement, a shift that it has so far avoided.

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The challenge of implementing the belt and road initiative in the middle east: Connectivity projects under conditions of limited political engagement

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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