Publication

This paper investigates China’s attempt to revive its economy by launching the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as part of the country’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative. The author argues that whereas Western assistance often comes with conditions on recipient countries for political or economic change, China is unlikely to attach many conditions to its investments and therefore may 1) be more appealing to developing countries and 2) push Western-led organizations to eventually loosen their investment criteria as well. The author predicts that China’s development bargain will succeed only if it can demonstrate that stronger economic integration through its “One Belt, One Road” scheme can deliver prosperity to all participants.