Changing Regional Alliances for China and the West

Autorentext
Stefan Schmalz is Associate Professor at the Institute of Sociology at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Germany. Brandon Sommer is Researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. Michael O. Slobodchikoff is distinguished political scientist and expert on U.S.-Russia relations, international diplomacy, and alliance politics.

Klappentext
Since the end of the World War II, nation states have formed regions to give them some protection from the processes of globalization and internationalization. Against this background, the contributors consider the position of China in the processes of regional competitive interdependency. This book offers analysis at three levels: internal, regional, and global. Chapters consider China's position in regional post-socialist associations such as the BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 'One Belt, One Road' (OBOR). Contributors discuss how membership in these regional bodies is likely to enhance China's economic power, strategic position, and political importance. A major theme addressed is whether these new powers will become complementary to the American-led economic core countries or evolve as countervailing powers. Contributors suggest that linkages favored by China's regional associations are more 'network' based and informal in character. They are more in keeping with regionalization rather than regional blocs such as the European Union, which have 'locked in' members to market-driven institutions. Thus, these new developments move away from a neo-liberal market perspective and satisfy the needs of members to retain their economic and political sovereignty. This book considers whether these new regional blocs led by China will perform a 'transformative' process for the international order or become an alternative-supplementary to, but not replacing, the existing institutions of the North. An important topic is the relationship of Russia and China to the Central Asian countries of the former USSR and the interaction between the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union and the Chinese initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt. There is potential for the evolution of an alliance between China and Russia against the neo-liberal order led by the USA. Concurrently, they bring out possible the tensions between Russia's and China's conflicting interests over influence in Central Asia. Reactions to China's rise include the Trump administration's movement from a multilateral to a bi-lateral trade policy and the threat of discriminatory tariffs for China. The contributors seek to promote a better appreciation of China's role in regional associations, and the implications of contemporary developments in economic, geo-political, and international political affairs in the 21st century.

Zusammenfassung
The rise of China is set in a regional perspective of competitive interdependency with the major world powers. This book addresses whether the new regional blocs led by China will perform a transformative process for the international order or complement the existing institutions of the North.

Inhalt

List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
Introduction: The Changing Pattern of World Trade and Politics
Chapter 1: Post-Soviet Regions: from Interdependence to Countervailing Powers? by David Lane
Chapter 2: The Changing Governance and Geography of World Trade, by Stefan Schmalz
Part I: China's Initiatives in Asia
Chapter 3: 'One Belt, One Road' As a Development Strategy, by Richard Griffiths
Chapter 4: Donald Trump's Presidency and the Implementation of OBOR in Central Asia, Akram Umarov
Chapter 5: The Rationale Behind the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): The View From Beijing, by Harry Roberts
Chapter 6: India Looks East and China Looks South: Competition, Confrontation or Balance, by Xueyu Wang and Mohammad Razaul Karim
Part II: China's Regional Initiatives
Chapter 7: Russia-China Relations in Central Asia and the SCO, by Mikhail A. Molchanov
Chapter 8: Energy Infrastructure Policy and State Capacity In BRIC Countries: A Comparative Analysis, by Carlos Santana
Chapter 9: The BRICs' New Development Bank: Its Potential Implications to International Political Economy, by Shigehisa Kasahara
Chapter 10: Russia and China as the Yin-And-Yang of 21st Century Eurasia? by Kaneshko Sangar
Part III: China and World Politics
Chapter 11: Strong as Silk: China in the Liberal Order, by Michael O. Slobodchikoff
Chapter 12: Comparative Analysis of China's Policies towards Integrated Organizations, by He Zhigao
Chapter 13: The US Pivot to Asia: Implications for China and East Asia, by Jeanne L. Wilson
Chapter 14: Can China's Rise Continue without Conflict? by Kees van der Pijl
About the Contributors