Silk road diplomacy: Geopolitics and histories of connectivity

ABSTRACT

The Silk Road has become one of the key geocultural and geostrategic concepts of the twenty-first century. Identified by two routes – maritime and overland, the Silk Road stretches across the Indian Ocean and Eurasian landmass; regions that will be of paramount importance in an increasingly multi-polar world. Through Belt and Road, China proclaims to be ‘reviving’ the Silk Road for the twenty-first century; ambitions that are creating forms of diplomacy across multiple sectors and countries.

To contextualise such developments, this paper examines the Silk Road’s historical formation as an arena of diplomacy and international cooperation. It argues that this stylised, romanticised depiction of pre-modern globalisation came to be associated with peace and harmony, cosmopolitanism and inter-cultural dialogue after World War II. Within this, however, Silk Road diplomacy has served as a vehicle for nationalist and geopolitical ambitions. The paper argues such entanglements underpin China's Belt and Road Initiative today.

KEYWORDS:

• Belt and Road, Silk Road, Cultural Diplomacy, Heritage Diplomacy, Geopolitics

Disclosure statement

I confirm that I do not have any relationships with individuals or organisations that pose a conflict of interest in relation to the subject matter nor do I stand to gain any financial benefits from the publications of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council [FT170100084].

Notes on contributors

Tim Winter

Tim Winter is a Professorial Australian Research Council Future Fellow, School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia. His current work examines the cultural aspects of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Silk Roads geocultural developments and politics. See: silkroadfutures.net