Opening

The application for OSCE Academy “International Workshop on China’s Belt and Road Initiative” is open now. Apply if you meet the criteria.

Background information

China’s New Silk Road Initiative (Belt and Road Initiative, BRI) has been spiraling its logistical and infrastructural coverage around the world since 2013. In the same way, substantial infrastructural investments in tracks and roads, as well as in the agriculture, energy sector, and logistical centers, were made in over 50 countries in Eurasia, a continent composed of Europe and Asia.

By this, BRI has influenced the political regimes, impacting autocracies and powerful, weak, and failed democracies similarly. BRI has triggered not only state authorities’ responses, but also massive reactions from business, civil society, and other non-governmental actors. BRI has, therefore, become both a curse and blessing for societies and political regimes along the ‘New Silk Road.’

Therefore, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek has decided to hold an international workshop nearly a decade after the official introduction of BRI. And, this workshop will assess its political implications.

So, the Academy is calling for applications and/or proposals on “China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Curse or Blessing for Democracy in Eurasia”.

Who does it call to participate?

Scholars, researchers, practitioners, and policy analysts are invited to apply for this workshop. Contributors are asked to discuss the impact that BRI has had, willingly or not, on democratization or autocratization processes in the countries and societies that it invested in, ranging from Europe to the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. While the workshop will mainly focus on the impact of BRI on political systems in Eurasia, proposals investigating China`s role in autocratization and democratization in other world zones as well as from a theoretical-conceptual standpoint are also welcome.

Details of the workshop

Submission deadline: 31 September 2020

Location: Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek

Host institution: OSCE Academy 

Workshop theme: China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI)

Workshop days: 12-14 March 2021

Benefits and coverages

• Participants in the 2021 RC34 International Workshop are expected to cover all personal travel expenses.
• Limited travel allowances might be available to cover airfare and housing costs of some participants (particularly, scholars from Central Asia).

Note: This workshop will provide the ground to participate distantly/via teleconferencing in case of travel restraints or lack of funding.

Please note that successful participants have to commit to full, active attendance to all panel sessions and discussions during the three days of the workshop, in addition to their own paper presentation.

Notice of acceptance: 30 October 2020

How to apply?

OSCE invites researchers wishing to participate in the 2021 RC34 International Workshop to submit a paper proposal.

Participants should send proposals (max. 500 words) in length to both:

1. Brigitte Weiffen, Senior Lecturer, The Open University and Milton Keynes: brigitte.weiffen@uni-konstanz.de
2. Anja Mihr, DAAD Associate Professor, OSCE Academy Bishkek: a.mihr@osce-academy.net.

For further information about the workshop, please visit the main announcement link.