Routledge Chinese Infrastructure Diplomacy in the Balkans: Beijing ‘Sponsored’ Consensus (Southeast European Studies)

This book analyses infrastructure projects in the Balkan region, examining Chinese penetration in the area, the political and economic dimensions of these projects, and the controversy associated with them. It utilises the highway project in Montenegro as a case study alongside key Chinese regional initiatives such as 16(17) +1 and Belt and Road. The author scrutinises the relationship between a small state undergoing political transition and a remote superpower, delving into the dynamics of an interaction which enabled the superpower to establish a significant presence in the region and examines issues around the democratisation processes in the area and the growing engagement with China. Furthermore, the study examines whether China is exporting its economic model and promoting an autocratic style of governance in the region, and how it positions itself vis-à-vis Europe’s normative power. By addressing these research gaps, it makes a valuable contribution to the existing literature on Sino/Balkan/Central and Eastern European relations and will be of interest to academics and researchers of international relations, development, IPE, Chinese studies, and Balkan studies. Policymakers, government officials, diplomats, and those involved in foreign affairs will also find the book invaluable.