Philosophical Foundations of the Belt and Road Initiative

The dissertation is dedicated to the analysis the philosophical foundations of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Belt and Road Initiative is China’s national strategy in the early 21st century and China’s top-level grand strategy in the early 21st century. In 2013, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative is intended to strengthen the Asia-Europe connectivity and interoperability, and the degree of openness to other regions such as Africa and Latin America. In May 2017, on the “Belt and Road Forum for international Cooperation”, Xi Jinping emphasized that the road will be “the road to peace and prosperity road, open road, road to innovation, and the road to civilization”. The Belt and Road Initiative has actually become a further step going to the world for China, and an opportunity for the world to recognize China. The success of the Belt and Road Initiative construction depends on both lasting efforts in China and depends on the cooperation of countries along the Belt and Road.
The Belt and Road Initiative is a massive infrastructure project proposed by the Chinese government in 2013, and from a philosophical perspective, the BRI can be interpreted in several ways, depending on the philosophical framework applied. Here are a few possible interpretations. This dissertation focuses on these aspects:
1. Pragmatism and Utilitarianism: From a pragmatist or utilitarian perspective, the BRI can be seen as a means to promote economic development, connectivity, and cooperation between participating countries. It aims to enhance trade, investment, and infrastructure development, potentially leading to increased prosperity and well-being for the involved nations.
2. Globalization and Cosmopolitanism: Some philosophers might view the BRI as an expression of globalization and cosmopolitan ideals. It seeks to foster interconnectedness among diverse cultures, promote mutual understanding, and encourage dialogue between different civilizations. This interpretation emphasizes the BRI’s potential to foster cultural exchange and the development of a more integrated and harmonious global community.
3. Political Realism and Geopolitics: A political realist perspective would focus on the strategic and geopolitical implications of the BRI. It could be seen as a manifestation of China’s desire to expand its influence and secure its geopolitical interests by establishing economic and political ties with participating countries. This interpretation would emphasize power dynamics, competition, and the pursuit of national interests.
4. Postcolonialism and Neocolonialism: Some scholars critical of the BRI have argued that it perpetuates neocolonial dynamics by enabling China to exert economic dominance over participating countries. This perspective highlights power imbalances, unequal partnerships, and the potential exploitation of weaker nations in the pursuit of Chinese economic and political interests. It raises questions about economic dependency, sovereignty, and the impact on local cultures and economies.
5. Environmental Ethics and Sustainability: The BRI also has implications for environmental philosophy. Critics argue that the massive infrastructure projects associated with the initiative could lead to environmental degradation, resource exploitation, and increased carbon emissions. An environmental ethicist might examine the sustainability aspects of the BRI and explore whether it aligns with principles of ecological responsibility and long-term environmental well-being.
These interpretations illustrate that the philosophical meaning of the Belt and Road Initiative can vary depending on the philosophical lens applied and the specific values and concerns emphasized by different scholars. It is important to consider multiple perspectives and engage in critical analysis when examining the philosophical implications of such complex initiatives. Analyzing the philosophical basis of the Belt and Road Initiative helps people around the world better understand the background and purpose of this Initiative, and provides scientific methodological guidance for the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the solution of global problems.
There will be four chapters in this thesis.
1. The first chapter is about research background and literature review. The initial chapter of this work delves into the research background, providing a comprehensive overview of the context and setting in which the study takes place. It also incorporates a thorough literature review, examining relevant scholarly works and existing knowledge on the subject matter.
2. The second chapter is about Marxism with Chinese characteristics as a theoretical basement of the Belt and Road Initiative. The second chapter aims to reveal in a systematic way the philosophical basement of the Belt and Road Initiative (the BRI). It is well-known that the philosophical foundations of the BRI are based on Chinese Marxism. However, it still remains unclear and unrevealed in a systematic way what elements of the Chinese Marxism system are used in the BRI. Therefore, the main objectives of the second chapter are:
a) to reveal the way of European Marxism reception in Chinese philosophy;
b) to show how Chinese philosophy transformed and improved European Marxism; and
c) to study how contemporary Western philosophy interprets Chinese Marxism in the context of the BRI implementation.
3. The third chapter is about understanding the identity and cultural diversity: comparative analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative and Western philosophical foundations. In the third chapter, the philosophical, social and axiological issues of the concept of “shared future” are described and analyzed how it is understood in Chinese Marxism as well as Socialism with Chinese characteristics and Western philosophy and social thought. This analysis is conducted in the focus of the identity and cultural diversity issues. The third chapter results in finding the possible ways to harmonize Chinese and Western ways of understanding the problems of identity and cultural diversity in the context of the BRI implementation.
4. The last chapter is about the philosophical issues of the Belt and Road Initiative implementations in Europe. It analyses the East-European philosophical foundations of the Belt and Road Initiative and compares with that of China and West-Europe. Moreover, it reveals the philosophical and cultural differences between China and Ukraine during the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and it provides some suggestions on promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Ukraine under the Belt and Road Initiative. Keywords: the Belt and Road Initiative, Marxism with Chinese characteristics, Xi Jinping Thoughts, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, cultural identity and diversity, community with a shared future for mankind.

Xu Jidan. Philosophical Foundations of the Belt and Road Initiative : manuscript … PhD in Philosophy : 033 Philosophy / supervisor Sergii Rudenko. Kyiv, 2024. 175 p.