Edited by Maria Adele Carrai, New York University Shanghai, China, Jean-Christophe Defraigne, Professor of International Economics, Institute for European Studies and Louvain School of Management, UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels University and Jan Wouters, Full Professor of International Law and International Organizations, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam EU and Global Governance and Director, Institute for International Law and Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

'A fascinating collection of detailed and data-driven studies that brings valuable on-the-ground insight into China's Belt and Road Initiative and its global impacts. Sets the standard for future research on this important topic.'--Elizabeth Economy, Council on Foreign Relations, US'This book offers balanced and thoughtful insights on important aspects of China's Belt and Road Initiative, such as its impact on global institutions and governance and the implications for project host countries from Southeast Asia to Africa. The chapters usefully shed light on the complex interplay of economic, strategic, political, and cultural factors that combine to make the Belt and Road both a transformative initiative and an enigma.'--Danny Russel, Asia Society Policy Institute, US'This is an outstanding analysis of the nature of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and its implications for global governance, backed up by penetrating and insightful case studies. Its comprehensive and compelling account of the subject is bound to receive widespread readership from the academic and policy-making community.'--Emil J. Kirchner, University of Essex, UK

• Contents:1 The Belt and Road Initiative and global governance: by way ofintroduction 1Maria Adele Carrai, Jean-Christophe Defraigne andJan WoutersPART I GEOECONOMICS AND CONNECTIVITY2 China’s move toward economic and political resilience throughthe Belt and Road Initiative 21Christer Ljungwall3 The Belt and Road Initiative, the economic integration of theEurasian continent and the international division of labour 34Jean-Christophe Defraigne4 Connectivity and gaps: the bridging links and missed links ofChina’s BRI in Southeast Asia 76Cheng-Chwee Kuik5 The Belt and Road Initiative: an interface with multilateraldevelopment banks on international cooperation and globalgovernance 96Suresh NanwaniPART II RATIONALES OF THE BRI FROM CHINA’SPERSPECTIVE6 The Belt and Road Initiative and the overcapacity connection 120Duncan Freeman7 The “internationalization” of the renminbi: toward an“RMBRI”? 139Jean-François Di Meglio8 Examining the importance of the New Silk Roads for Africaand for global governance 155Thierry PairaultPART III CASES FROM THE GROUND9 Kazakhstan’s adaptation to the Belt and Road Initiative:tracing changes in domestic governance 182Nargis Kassenova10 African agency in the Belt and Road Initiative: Kenya’s railinvestment as China’s flagship BRI project in Africa 204Uwe Wissenbach11 Where is the Belt and Road Initiative taking internationallabour rights? An examination of worker abuse by Chinesefirms in Saipan 225Aaron Halegua12 Conclusion: China’s Belt and Road Initiative – imaginationand reality 258François GodementIndex 263

Edited by Maria Adele Carrai, New York University Shanghai, China, Jean-Christophe Defraigne, Professor of International Economics, Institute for European Studies and Louvain School of Management, UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels University and Jan Wouters, Full Professor of International Law and International Organizations, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam EU and Global Governance and Director, Institute for International Law and Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

'A fascinating collection of detailed and data-driven studies that brings valuable on-the-ground insight into China's Belt and Road Initiative and its global impacts. Sets the standard for future research on this important topic.'--Elizabeth Economy, Council on Foreign Relations, US'This book offers balanced and thoughtful insights on important aspects of China's Belt and Road Initiative, such as its impact on global institutions and governance and the implications for project host countries from Southeast Asia to Africa. The chapters usefully shed light on the complex interplay of economic, strategic, political, and cultural factors that combine to make the Belt and Road both a transformative initiative and an enigma.'--Danny Russel, Asia Society Policy Institute, US'This is an outstanding analysis of the nature of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and its implications for global governance, backed up by penetrating and insightful case studies. Its comprehensive and compelling account of the subject is bound to receive widespread readership from the academic and policy-making community.'--Emil J. Kirchner, University of Essex, UK

• Contents:1 The Belt and Road Initiative and global governance: by way ofintroduction 1Maria Adele Carrai, Jean-Christophe Defraigne andJan WoutersPART I GEOECONOMICS AND CONNECTIVITY2 China’s move toward economic and political resilience throughthe Belt and Road Initiative 21Christer Ljungwall3 The Belt and Road Initiative, the economic integration of theEurasian continent and the international division of labour 34Jean-Christophe Defraigne4 Connectivity and gaps: the bridging links and missed links ofChina’s BRI in Southeast Asia 76Cheng-Chwee Kuik5 The Belt and Road Initiative: an interface with multilateraldevelopment banks on international cooperation and globalgovernance 96Suresh NanwaniPART II RATIONALES OF THE BRI FROM CHINA’SPERSPECTIVE6 The Belt and Road Initiative and the overcapacity connection 120Duncan Freeman7 The “internationalization” of the renminbi: toward an“RMBRI”? 139Jean-François Di Meglio8 Examining the importance of the New Silk Roads for Africaand for global governance 155Thierry PairaultPART III CASES FROM THE GROUND9 Kazakhstan’s adaptation to the Belt and Road Initiative:tracing changes in domestic governance 182Nargis Kassenova10 African agency in the Belt and Road Initiative: Kenya’s railinvestment as China’s flagship BRI project in Africa 204Uwe Wissenbach11 Where is the Belt and Road Initiative taking internationallabour rights? An examination of worker abuse by Chinesefirms in Saipan 225Aaron Halegua12 Conclusion: China’s Belt and Road Initiative – imaginationand reality 258François GodementIndex 263

Edited by Maria Adele Carrai, New York University Shanghai, China, Jean-Christophe Defraigne, Professor of International Economics, Institute for European Studies and Louvain School of Management, UCLouvain Saint-Louis Brussels University and Jan Wouters, Full Professor of International Law and International Organizations, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam EU and Global Governance and Director, Institute for International Law and Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

'A fascinating collection of detailed and data-driven studies that brings valuable on-the-ground insight into China's Belt and Road Initiative and its global impacts. Sets the standard for future research on this important topic.'--Elizabeth Economy, Council on Foreign Relations, US'This book offers balanced and thoughtful insights on important aspects of China's Belt and Road Initiative, such as its impact on global institutions and governance and the implications for project host countries from Southeast Asia to Africa. The chapters usefully shed light on the complex interplay of economic, strategic, political, and cultural factors that combine to make the Belt and Road both a transformative initiative and an enigma.'--Danny Russel, Asia Society Policy Institute, US'This is an outstanding analysis of the nature of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and its implications for global governance, backed up by penetrating and insightful case studies. Its comprehensive and compelling account of the subject is bound to receive widespread readership from the academic and policy-making community.'--Emil J. Kirchner, University of Essex, UK

• Contents:1 The Belt and Road Initiative and global governance: by way ofintroduction 1Maria Adele Carrai, Jean-Christophe Defraigne andJan WoutersPART I GEOECONOMICS AND CONNECTIVITY2 China’s move toward economic and political resilience throughthe Belt and Road Initiative 21Christer Ljungwall3 The Belt and Road Initiative, the economic integration of theEurasian continent and the international division of labour 34Jean-Christophe Defraigne4 Connectivity and gaps: the bridging links and missed links ofChina’s BRI in Southeast Asia 76Cheng-Chwee Kuik5 The Belt and Road Initiative: an interface with multilateraldevelopment banks on international cooperation and globalgovernance 96Suresh NanwaniPART II RATIONALES OF THE BRI FROM CHINA’SPERSPECTIVE6 The Belt and Road Initiative and the overcapacity connection 120Duncan Freeman7 The “internationalization” of the renminbi: toward an“RMBRI”? 139Jean-François Di Meglio8 Examining the importance of the New Silk Roads for Africaand for global governance 155Thierry PairaultPART III CASES FROM THE GROUND9 Kazakhstan’s adaptation to the Belt and Road Initiative:tracing changes in domestic governance 182Nargis Kassenova10 African agency in the Belt and Road Initiative: Kenya’s railinvestment as China’s flagship BRI project in Africa 204Uwe Wissenbach11 Where is the Belt and Road Initiative taking internationallabour rights? An examination of worker abuse by Chinesefirms in Saipan 225Aaron Halegua12 Conclusion: China’s Belt and Road Initiative – imaginationand reality 258François GodementIndex 263