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China’s Belt and Road Initiative: analysing the Initiative as domestically-oriented

Nijbroek, Tim (2018) ACET35
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
This master’s thesis investigates to what extent China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is also partially a domestically-oriented policy. This thesis analyses the BRI as a single case study using qualitative content analysis in which two separate datasets are used. Subsequently, these findings are applied to the theory of ‘fragmented authoritarianism’, which focuses on the modus operandi of domestic policy-making in China. This master’s thesis ultimately concludes that the Belt and Road Initiative is not a unitary and self-assured foreign policy that should be analysed using international relations theories. Instead, the BRI should be interpreted as a domestic project, with a degree of foreign policy implications. This hence means that the... (More)
This master’s thesis investigates to what extent China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is also partially a domestically-oriented policy. This thesis analyses the BRI as a single case study using qualitative content analysis in which two separate datasets are used. Subsequently, these findings are applied to the theory of ‘fragmented authoritarianism’, which focuses on the modus operandi of domestic policy-making in China. This master’s thesis ultimately concludes that the Belt and Road Initiative is not a unitary and self-assured foreign policy that should be analysed using international relations theories. Instead, the BRI should be interpreted as a domestic project, with a degree of foreign policy implications. This hence means that the Belt and Road falls under the distinct Chinese domestic decision-making system like any other domestic policy. The BRI is therefore similarly subject to a principal-agent structure, Leninist power structures and bureaucratic rivalry, among others. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Nijbroek, Tim
supervisor
organization
course
ACET35
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Belt and Road Initiative, “One Belt, One Road”, China, fragmented authoritarianism, fragmented authority, domestic policy-making, domestic politics, domestic motivations
language
English
id
8956647
date added to LUP
2018-08-22 13:48:27
date last changed
2018-08-22 13:48:27
@misc{8956647,
  abstract     = {{This master’s thesis investigates to what extent China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is also partially a domestically-oriented policy. This thesis analyses the BRI as a single case study using qualitative content analysis in which two separate datasets are used. Subsequently, these findings are applied to the theory of ‘fragmented authoritarianism’, which focuses on the modus operandi of domestic policy-making in China. This master’s thesis ultimately concludes that the Belt and Road Initiative is not a unitary and self-assured foreign policy that should be analysed using international relations theories. Instead, the BRI should be interpreted as a domestic project, with a degree of foreign policy implications. This hence means that the Belt and Road falls under the distinct Chinese domestic decision-making system like any other domestic policy. The BRI is therefore similarly subject to a principal-agent structure, Leninist power structures and bureaucratic rivalry, among others.}},
  author       = {{Nijbroek, Tim}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{China’s Belt and Road Initiative: analysing the Initiative as domestically-oriented}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}