China’s Geopolitical Aspirations and Serbia’s Role in the One Belt, One Road Initiative Analyzed Through the Context of the Heartland Theory by Halford John Mackinder

• Název práce v češtině: Čínský vliv na politické a ekonomické klima balkánských států
• Název v anglickém jazyce: China’s Geopolitical Aspirations and Serbia’s Role in the One Belt, One Road Initiative Analyzed Through the Context of the Heartland Theory by Halford John Mackinder
• Klíčová slova: Čína, investice
• Klíčová slova anglicky: OBOR, One Belt One Road, China, Serbia, EU, European Union, Heartland Theory
• Akademický rok vypsání: 2016/2017
• Typ práce: diplomová práce
• Jazyk práce: angličtina
• Ústav: Institut ekonomických studií (23-IES)
• Vedoucí / školitel: doc. Martin Riegl, Ph.D.
• Řešitel: skrytý - zadáno vedoucím/školitelem
• Datum přihlášení: 16.06.2017
• Datum zadání: 16.06.2017
• Datum a čas obhajoby: 28.06.2018 00:00
• Místo konání obhajoby: Jinonice - U Kříže 8, Praha 5, J3093, Jinonice - místn. č. 3093
• Datum odevzdání elektronické podoby: 11.05.2018
• Datum proběhlé obhajoby: 28.06.2018
• Oponenti: doc. Mgr. Bohumil Doboš, Ph.D.

Seznam odborné literatury

Adrian Hyde-Price (2006) ‘Normative’ power Europe: a realist critique, Journal of European Public Policy, 13:2, 217-234, DOI: 10.1080/13501760500451634
Chowdhury, S.K. and Hel, K.A., 2015. The Heartland theory of Sir Halford John Mackinder: justification of foreign policy of the United States and Russia in Central Asia. Journal of Liberty and International Affairs, (1 s 2).
Debin, D.U. and Yahua, M.A., 2015. One Belt and One Road: The grand geo-strategy of China's rise. Geographical Research, 34(6), pp.1005-1014.
Harper, T. 2017. Towards an Asian Eurasia: Mackinder’s heartland theory and the return of China to Eurasia. Cambridge Journal of Eurasian Studies, 1(1).
Sidaway, J.D. and Woon, C.Y., 2017. Chinese Narratives on “One Belt, One Road”(一带一路) in Geopolitical and Imperial Contexts. The Professional Geographer, 69(4), pp.591-603.

Předběžná náplň práce v anglickém jazyce

Topic characteristics / Research Question(s):
This thesis seeks to answer the question: To what extent is the Heartland theory capable of predicting China's foreign policy, with specific regard to Serbia and its influence on their relations with the European Union? The analysis conducts an economic and geopolitical analysis on Serbia and China, distinguishing Serbia as a key state in China’s aspirations in controlling the Heartland. Serbia’s geographical position, historical neutrality between the East and West, hostility towards the EU and its role as the entrance into Eastern Europe makes it a unique case study. Inquiring into investment across the region between China and Serbia allows an understanding of whether Serbia is over or underestimating the effect of new Chinese relations. Serbia is in dire need of financial investment, but is unable to implement all of the EU policies stipulated to receive EU funds, and thus Chinese investment with minor political requirements makes it an ideal option. The spillover effects are necessary to be analyzed and indicate that they will hinder Serbia’s accession process through the human rights violations present, requiring a unified European response to China instead of bilateral negotiations as they presently are.

I will use data from the World Competitiveness Report, World Bank’s World Development Indicators, and collect data myself from the 16+1 summit held in Budapest in 2017.

Working hypotheses:
1. China’s OBOR project is a pretext to their advancement in capturing the Heartland
2. Chinese investment conducted through bilateralism serves to weaken each individual European state in their negotiations with China
3. Chinese investment will serve as an additional tool in dividing Europe by political spillover effects in Serbia which will hinder its progression in the EU


Methodology:
Concerning the economic literature on investment within Serbia and Central Asia by China, basic international trade analysis will be conducted. The primary focus being a political analysis means the use of the Heartland theory will be the main method of analysis. In a theoretical analysis of the state of the Balkan political economy, I will look at the affect that financial assistance from Europe (Investment with ethical, moral and standardized requirements) has when compared with financial assistance from China (Minimal institutional requirements, extremely liberal and low state standards) in direct discussion with the corruption of the governments of the various Balkan states.

Outline:

Abstract 2
1. Introduction
2. Background
2.1 Introduction 3
2.2 The One Belt, One Road Initiative
2.3 Chinese and Serbian Relations
2.4 Serbia
2.5 The European Union

3. Theoretical Framework

3.1 Introduction
3.2 The Heartland Theory

4. Literature Review

4.1 Chinese Aspirations in Eurasia
4.2 China’s Potential for Growth
4.2.1 Foreign Direct Investment
4.2.2 Movement of Human Capital
4.2.3 Political Dominance
4.2.4 Conclusion

5. Limitations

5.1 The One Belt, One Road Initiative
5.2 The Heartland Theory

6. Analysis

6.1 Chinese Aspirations in Central Asia
6.1.1 Challenging American Hegemony
6.1.2 Centrality to the Former Soviet States
6.2 China’s Diplomacy Towards the European Union
6.3 Political Implications for Serbia
6.3.1 Serbia’s Utility for China
6.3.2 Spillover Effects

7. Recommendation

8. Conclusion

9. Bibliography

10. Appendices