Theoretical approaches of the study of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

The article is devoted to theoretical approaches of the study of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. The analytical
background of the study of BRI is just as the Initiative itself is in the process of realization. Authors of the
article aim to analyze the theoretical approaches to the study of Chinese initiative and bring out the main trends
of the study of the theoretical and methodological base of BRI. Supporters of realism/neorealism characterize
Chinese initiative as a geopolitical construct aimed at maintaining a favorable strategic space around China and
strengthening economic and political power of China in the world. Proponents of liberal / neoliberal approaches see BRI as a strategy for China's international cooperation with participating countries of the Belt and Road. Chinese economic interests involve the use of liberal values, as well as it uses the market to create necessary infrastructure to maintain those interests. Constructivism theory is also used to explain the nature of BRI. There are discussions in academic field regarding the geopolitics of territorial/classical and the new geopolitics of flows/geopolitics 2.0. In geopolitics of flows, the decisive role belongs to the state/actor, who is able to organize the flow and control it. The article also discusses new approaches to the search for the theory of Chinese initiative, which go beyond the generally accepted theoretical research. At the end of the article, authors present their conclusions about the condition of theoretical research on BRI and the need for an integrated approach to the problems posed in the article.