Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road Initiative
The critical study of China’s influence on global sustainability is imperative, given its emergence as a global power. This paper examines China’s leading environmental discourse—ecological civilization—in the global context. Although ecological civilization has become a key envisioning concept in C...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Research in Globalization |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590051X2300031X |
| _version_ | 1797394851753361408 |
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| author | Qingge Geng Kevin Lo |
| author_facet | Qingge Geng Kevin Lo |
| author_sort | Qingge Geng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The critical study of China’s influence on global sustainability is imperative, given its emergence as a global power. This paper examines China’s leading environmental discourse—ecological civilization—in the global context. Although ecological civilization has become a key envisioning concept in China’s domestic environmental politics and governance, the meanings of the term on the international stage have not been fully explored. This study empirically examine how ecological civilization is integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative—China’s most significant international policy under Xi. We conducted a thematic content analysis of macro-level guiding policies that cover the core content of the Belt and Road Initiative and underpin the formulation of other sectoral-specific policies. The evidence suggests that the objectives and schemes of the Belt and Road Initiative represent a distinct interpretation of ecological civilization in comparison to its domestic version, with a heavy emphasis on developmentalism, free trade, and voluntary environmentalism but remain ambiguous about ideas such as eco-socialism, state control, and human-nature harmony. A shared aspect between domestic and international discourses is the emphasis on the use of technologies as a means of addressing environmental challenges, which suggests that the Belt and Road Initiative inspires to promote Chinese eco-technologies and industries overseas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:25:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e2b7df74530a461e90f32db011978306 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-051X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:25:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research in Globalization |
| spelling | doaj.art-e2b7df74530a461e90f32db0119783062023-12-12T04:35:26ZengElsevierResearch in Globalization2590-051X2023-12-017100141Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road InitiativeQingge Geng0Kevin Lo1Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong KongDepartment of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong; David C Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong; Corresponding author at: Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.The critical study of China’s influence on global sustainability is imperative, given its emergence as a global power. This paper examines China’s leading environmental discourse—ecological civilization—in the global context. Although ecological civilization has become a key envisioning concept in China’s domestic environmental politics and governance, the meanings of the term on the international stage have not been fully explored. This study empirically examine how ecological civilization is integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative—China’s most significant international policy under Xi. We conducted a thematic content analysis of macro-level guiding policies that cover the core content of the Belt and Road Initiative and underpin the formulation of other sectoral-specific policies. The evidence suggests that the objectives and schemes of the Belt and Road Initiative represent a distinct interpretation of ecological civilization in comparison to its domestic version, with a heavy emphasis on developmentalism, free trade, and voluntary environmentalism but remain ambiguous about ideas such as eco-socialism, state control, and human-nature harmony. A shared aspect between domestic and international discourses is the emphasis on the use of technologies as a means of addressing environmental challenges, which suggests that the Belt and Road Initiative inspires to promote Chinese eco-technologies and industries overseas.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590051X2300031XGlobal ecological civilizationEnvironmental governanceEnvironmental politicsBelt and Road InitiativeChina |
| spellingShingle | Qingge Geng Kevin Lo Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road Initiative Research in Globalization Global ecological civilization Environmental governance Environmental politics Belt and Road Initiative China |
| title | Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road Initiative |
| title_full | Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road Initiative |
| title_fullStr | Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road Initiative |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road Initiative |
| title_short | Global ecological civilization: An analysis of macro-level policies of the Belt and Road Initiative |
| title_sort | global ecological civilization an analysis of macro level policies of the belt and road initiative |
| topic | Global ecological civilization Environmental governance Environmental politics Belt and Road Initiative China |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590051X2300031X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qinggegeng globalecologicalcivilizationananalysisofmacrolevelpoliciesofthebeltandroadinitiative AT kevinlo globalecologicalcivilizationananalysisofmacrolevelpoliciesofthebeltandroadinitiative |