ONE BELT ONE ROAD (OBOR) AND NEO-EURASIANISM: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

This article analyses the costs and benefits of China’s initiative One Belt One Road (OBOR) for Europe and Asia in the spectrum of Neo-Eurasianism theory. The OBOR has a broader prospect of commercial and economic cooperation between China to Europe via Central Asia. Therefore, some long-term repercussions that may occur due to the concerns of regional and extra regional players in this regard are also examined. The objective of this study is to initiate a theoretical debate on geo-political impacts caused by OBOR. This article focuses on the theory of new great game and the concepts of rim land and heartland to evaluate the role of Silk Road project in the fast-changing strategic position of the Central Asia. It is important to find out that the Russian response towards Chinese policy of mass connectivity fulfills an idea of Eurasianism, which is originally a Russian-centered concept but the involvement of emerging power like China would enhance the geopolitical importance of Central Asia.