The New Silk Road and Sino-Russian relations through the lens of Liberalism, Realism and Neocolonialism

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 190, Issue 5-6(2), Pages: 12-22

Citation information:
Gherasim, I. A. (2021). The New Silk Road and Sino-Russian relations through the lens of Liberalism, Realism and Neocolonialism. Economic Annals-XXI, 190(5-6(2)), 4-11. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V190-01


Ioan Alexandru Gherasim
PhD Student (International Relations),
Doctoral School of International Relations and Political Science,
Corvinus University of Budapest
8 Fővám Str., Budapest, 1093, Hungary
ioanalexandrugherasim@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0146-8567

The New Silk Road and Sino-Russian relations through the lens of Liberalism, Realism and Neocolonialism

Abstract
The rebirth of the Silk Road presents itself as a possible change in the status quo in Central Asia. China’s presents and influence in the region has been increasing in the past decade in the detriment of Russian influence. This paper analyzes the New Silk Road and Sino-Russian relations through the lens of liberalism, realism and neocolonialism. The Belt and Road Initiative presents itself as a revolutionary project however the changes it produces in terms of trade are minimal. Strategic aspects trump the trade related ones. The paper demonstrates that China needs Russia to participate in order to make the project successful while Russia should participate in order to limit China from taking control over the region, thus realism is they school of thought together with neocolonialism.

Keywords: Trade Route; New Silk Road; Influence; Trade; Neocolonialism; China; Russia; Central Asia; Liberalism; Realism; Neocolonialism

JEL Classification: F1; F5; N40

Acknowledgements and Funding: The present publication is the outcome of the project «From talent to young researcher project aimed at activities supporting the research career model in higher education», identifier EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00007, co-supported by the European Union, Hungary and the European Social Fund.

Contribution: The author contributed personally to this work.

Data Availability Statement: The dataset is available from the author upon request.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V190-01

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Received 14.04.2021
Received in revised form 6.05.2021
Accepted 21.05.2021
Available online 10.07.2021