China’s “Belt and Road” Initiative as a Soft Power Apparatus in Mediterranean
摘要
The political history of the Southern European Region is one of the longest and most complex issues in the whole Mediterranean Sea. Many times the natural process in the region has been interrupted by actors of all kinds and, thus, adding to the complexity of the regional harmony and developmental equilibrium. Within this context, the Soft Power dimension is an important component that needs to be addressed as it directly impacts the complexity of international relations. While geopolitical restructure and intercultural manifestations have been the dominant trends in the Southern European Region, the importance of a soft power apparatus as a mechanism of foreign policy has remained constant. In my chapter, I consider “Belt & Road Initiative” (BRI) as a historic and cultural heritage shared by all countries in the Southern European Region. In particular, as China looks to adjust its foreign and cultural policy strategies accordingly, the country’s “Belt & Road Initiative” can generate and leverage basic pillars of soft power in the Southern European Region. Nevertheless, BRI is a powerful apparatus to fortify the heritage as well as the modern cultural position of China in synergy with nation-states of the Southern European Region, which aim to promote the mutual progress of human civilization, prosperity, and development. Besides, in the new era marked by the theme of an harmonious development, the BRI is both a trans-regional bridge and a multidimensional apparatus that makes societies cooperate and engage in a common future based on the principles of peace, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit.