Through the Looking Glass: Evaluating Chinese Influence in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the Age of the Belt and Road Initiative

This thesis examines the geopolitical dynamics of Central Asia in the context of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It begins with a comprehensive literature review discussing the BRI's potential to reshape the global order and its specific impact on Central Asia, focusing on energy politics, water management, regional identities, and the involvement of major global powers. The study critiques mainstream International Relations (IR) theories, highlighting their limitations in addressing Central Asian geopolitics, and advocates for a Neogramscian approach to better analyse Sino-Central Asian relations. Methodologically, the thesis employs a qualitative, soft interpretivist framework to investigate the nuances of Chinese influence in the region. Detailed in the chapter "Ascertaining Hegemony: Epistemology and Thematic Analysis," this approach outlines how non-positivist forms of political influence and hegemonic structures are identified. The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated a shift from planned in-person fieldwork in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to remote methods of contact and data collection, significantly impacting participant recruitment and interview processes. This project advances existing literature by incorporating new perspectives on the emerging relationship between Beijing and Central Asian countries and examining developing empirical cases. The central question of the thesis is: How is the Belt and Road Initiative reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Central Asia? Case studies of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan illustrate the varied political and economic structures and their responses to the BRI. Digital fieldwork findings reveal divergent perceptions of the BRI among political elites in these countries, with Kazakhstan displaying greater optimism and self-confidence compared to the cautious approach observed in Kyrgyzstan. The study concludes that Kyrgyzstan's democratic structures may offer greater resilience against external influences than Kazakhstan's authoritarian system, contributing to the broader discourse on power dynamics and international politics in Central Asia. Ultimately, this study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the BRI's impact on Central Asia and how it is transforming regional geopolitical realities.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Author dc:creator

• Mohr, Carl

Contributors dc:contributor

• Whitmore, Sarah
• Issacs, Rico
• Medby, Ingrid A.

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/6cwg-q122

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:3c0082b1-3953-40fe-8794-d771306af197:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1