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China’s geo-economic gambit in Pakistan An investigation on the strategic implications of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Mollestam, Erik LU (2019) EKHK18 20191
Department of Economic History
Abstract
States are increasingly applying economic means of power to pursue political objectives. The Chinese geo-economic mega-project the Belt and Road Initiative is the worlds foremost example of this trend. At the heart of this strategy, both geographically and strategically, is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This infrastructure project, worth approximately $62 billion, is expected to revitalise the Pakistani economy as well as transform the regional power balance. This thesis analyses the implications of the Chinese investments on Pakistan’s geo-economic significance in the region as well as the risks associated with the bilateral project. The study is conducted within a geo-economic analytical framework and applies a mixed methods... (More)
States are increasingly applying economic means of power to pursue political objectives. The Chinese geo-economic mega-project the Belt and Road Initiative is the worlds foremost example of this trend. At the heart of this strategy, both geographically and strategically, is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This infrastructure project, worth approximately $62 billion, is expected to revitalise the Pakistani economy as well as transform the regional power balance. This thesis analyses the implications of the Chinese investments on Pakistan’s geo-economic significance in the region as well as the risks associated with the bilateral project. The study is conducted within a geo-economic analytical framework and applies a mixed methods methodology to investigate the ongoing constructions. This thesis concludes that while many of the planned projects within the CPEC-framework have not yet been materialised, the investments have already increased Pakistan’s strategic importance for China and its geo-economic security. Furthermore, the study finds that although the project is foremost based on strategic necessities, the land-corridor has the potential of becoming a facilitator of economic activity in the entire region and thereby decrease military tensions. (Less)
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author
Mollestam, Erik LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHK18 20191
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Communist Party, China, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Geo-economic, Gwadar, Pakistan, Security, Strategic.
language
English
id
8983291
date added to LUP
2019-06-17 13:12:21
date last changed
2019-06-17 13:12:21
@misc{8983291,
  abstract     = {{States are increasingly applying economic means of power to pursue political objectives. The Chinese geo-economic mega-project the Belt and Road Initiative is the worlds foremost example of this trend. At the heart of this strategy, both geographically and strategically, is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This infrastructure project, worth approximately $62 billion, is expected to revitalise the Pakistani economy as well as transform the regional power balance. This thesis analyses the implications of the Chinese investments on Pakistan’s geo-economic significance in the region as well as the risks associated with the bilateral project. The study is conducted within a geo-economic analytical framework and applies a mixed methods methodology to investigate the ongoing constructions. This thesis concludes that while many of the planned projects within the CPEC-framework have not yet been materialised, the investments have already increased Pakistan’s strategic importance for China and its geo-economic security. Furthermore, the study finds that although the project is foremost based on strategic necessities, the land-corridor has the potential of becoming a facilitator of economic activity in the entire region and thereby decrease military tensions.}},
  author       = {{Mollestam, Erik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{China’s geo-economic gambit in Pakistan An investigation on the strategic implications of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}