Chinese Global Infrastructure

Infrastructure is critical to China's global development and influence. This Element provides a comprehensive account of major Chinese government-financed infrastructure projects in the Global South since 1949, showing that Chinese global infrastructure is distinct in its historical tenacity and contemporary scope. It examines how infrastructure projects have created both purposeful and unintended sources of influence by serving as valuable but risky political capital for host country governments and the Chinese government.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 104 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Infrastructure plays a pivotal role in China's global presence and is a key focus of broader discussions about Chinese influence. This Element offers a comprehensive overview of significant government-financed infrastructure projects in the Global South since 1949. By utilizing new datasets, it showcases that Chinese global infrastructure stands out for its historical resilience and vast contemporary reach. However, it is important to approach contemporary Chinese global infrastructure and the Belt and Road Initiative in a broader context. Historical and comparative analyses reveal that modern infrastructure projects often draw upon similar political logics as those that shaped infrastructure investment in earlier periods of Chinese history and other international contexts.

The Element delves into how infrastructure projects have generated both intended and unintended influences. On the one hand, they serve as valuable political capital for host country governments, providing opportunities for economic development and cooperation. On the other hand, these projects also carry risks, such as environmental degradation, social unrest, and geopolitical tensions.

The Element concludes by emphasizing the need for a balanced and nuanced understanding of Chinese global infrastructure. It highlights the importance of considering the historical, political, and economic contexts in which these projects are developed and implemented. By doing so, we can better appreciate the complexities and implications of China's role in global development and the broader debates surrounding Chinese influence.

This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core, allowing scholars and researchers worldwide to access and contribute to the knowledge on this important topic.

Weight: 163g
ISBN-13: 9781009088343