‍Central Asia and The Caucasus Journal

Abstract The facts and figures as well as expert reviews of international politics prove that China is in the trend of a power rise as well as hegemony afterwards. The main issue is about the opportunities and obstacles that China will face in this trend, especially from the prism of geopolitics. The question is about the impact of geopolitics on China´s prospect hegemony. Since geopolitics is both an opportunity- maker and restrictive factor for hegemony, it would be both a trouble making and a break ahead for China. This literature not only provides a better understanding of main hindrances that China faces ahead in its power rise, but also serves as a source of explanation for understanding its regional foreign policy instruments. Trying to compose a theoretical framework for the relation between hegemony and geopolitics, the authors have studied possible symptoms of China´s prospect hegemony. China´s Belt - Road Initiative is assessed as an instrument for breaking through its geographical obstacles.

Abstract Belt- Road Initiative as China’s foreign policy great strategy was proposed in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, and is known as China’s foreign policy spearhead. Since it includes many regional countries, the initiative has made its relevant actors design policies for optimizing its benefits and reducing its challenges. The author tries to define possible challenges of the Belt – Road Initiative for Iran. Therefore she tries to answer the following question: How the challenges of the Belt – Road Initiative are assessed? The challenges are addressed through two prisms: 1. negligence to Iran’s potentialities (as the factors of its effectiveness reduction); 2. foreign threats (as the factors that influence on Iran).
The present literature argues that although China always claims prosperity and economic integration as the goals of its Belt and Road Initiative, its approach is practically reflecting political and security consequences. Neorealism theory is used as the theoretical framework in this article.
 

Abstract Eurasia which is called as the heart of world politics in Heartland Theory is facing such wide and diverse developments in the light of Belt – Road Initiative that would add to its significance.
The Heartland Theory which is also called as Mackinderian Philosophy placed the pivot in the center of the planet, which includes the river basins of the Volga, Yenisey, Amu Draya, Syr Draya, and two seas the Caspian and the Aral. This theory put emphasis on the centrality of the Eurasian region. Mackinder stated that in the context of the global geopolitical processes, the Eurasian continent is found in the center of the world politics. Mackinder believes that Heartland would remain as the geographical pivot of history for all the times, but some rival theories and criticisms had been challenging its accuracy and durability.
In order to answer the question that how the Belt – Road Initiative could re -highlight Eurasia as Heartland, explores the following hypothesis: Belt – Road Initiative fortifies the potential nature of Heartland Theory. Using explanatory – analyzing research method, the authors try to tell why the research findings provide an answer to the research question.

Abstract Asia as a vast continent is facing new developments. Regional and trans-regional players have proposed some new initiatives in order to secure their own interests in different parts of the continent. American plan of the New Silk Road, American pivot to Asia, and New Architecture Building plans designed by the United States and the European Union, are the recent trans-regional plans, and the One Belt – One Road Initiative as well as the Asian Architecture Building are the regional ones. The authors, besides scrutinizing two versions of a Silk Road strategy (proposed by the United States and China), address this main question: Which plan meets the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran?
The authors also address this secondary question that what is the weight of Iran in Chinese Belt – Road Initiative. The authors argue that due to considering Iran’s fundamental and axis role, the Belt – Road Initiative is capable of securing geostrategic, economic and security interests of Islamic Republic of Iran. This literature leads to the conclusion that Iran’s activeness defines its position in the Belt – Road Initiative. The Copenhagen School builds the theoretical framework of this literature. 

Abstract Security priorities of a country are not only affected by its internal situation, but sometimes regional situation is also a determinant factor of these priorities. The effectiveness of regional situations is especially when the subject country has a growing economy. After the collapse of USSR, the Central Asia had the same effect on China’s security priorities. China is an emerging global power in Central Asia’s region. This emergence is obvious from economic, political and security aspects. Since 1990, Beijing has first taken a security approach for improving its relations with Central Asian countries, so that it can pave the road for other converging elements. It seems that China can take advantage of Central Asia both as a target and a tool for achieving other targets. This article is emphasizing on the hypothesis claiming that China has chosen the approach of “extended security” for its relations with Central Asia and has prioritized its economic interests in the region. This article tries to answer that why and how China follows the security-oriented economic strategy in Central Asia.