The Chinese New Silk Road utopia and its archaeology^*

* Someone might have noticed that the title refers to Michel Foucault’s ‘archaeological method’ and its ‘discursive formations’. However, I owe more to Daniel C. Waught and The Silk Road Journal, of which he is the editor. The title of my text is also a loan from his publication in this magazine – ‘Richthofen’s “Silk Road”: Toward the archeology of a concept’ (2007).

ABSTRACT

In this article, I address the Chinese project of the New Silk Road and discuss its utopian character. I analyse the origin of meanings and values inscribed in the project. In exploring the relationship between the old and new values associated with the New Silk Road, I point to continuities, but also to modifications and innovations. In conclusion, I claim that the Chinese project is a utopia which offers an alternative to the current global order. However, this Chinese utopia is underpinned by the meanings and values of the West’s utopia.

KEYWORDS:

• New Silk Road
• utopia
• China
• West

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

* Someone might have noticed that the title refers to Michel Foucault’s ‘archaeological method’ and its ‘discursive formations’. However, I owe more to Daniel C. Waught and The Silk Road Journal, of which he is the editor. The title of my text is also a loan from his publication in this magazine – ‘Richthofen’s “Silk Road”: Toward the archeology of a concept’ (2007).

1. It is worth noting, however, that some researchers and sometimes Richthofen wrote about Silk Roads (in the plural).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adam Nobis

Notes on contributor

Adam Nobis, PhD, is Professor at the Global Studies Laboratory, Institute of Cultural Studies, Department of Globalization & Communication, University of Wrocław and he serves as Editor-in-Chief of Culture-History-Globalization. His research focuses on global studies.