Robert Bianchi discusses several challenges that China may face with its Belt and Road Initiative. There will be conflicts between great powers, within benefiting societies, and within China itself that require constant negotiations over power and resource sharing. As projects expand abroad, China will face more criticism from labor, environmental, and business groups that could impact domestic stability. To ease tensions, China, the West, and Islamic countries will need to negotiate sharing benefits and resources from projects more fairly. This could help address the roots of many conflicts over natural resources.
Social capital civil society and democracyAbad Agha
What is Social Capital? How to measure social capital? What is the link between democracy and social capital? How its stock can be increased? Where does it come from?
US, Pakistan, India Relationship and a Positive New World Order
Promote (if) any ideas appeal to you
I’m a firm believer in the competence, resilience & emotional intelligence of women
Hence I launched www.WomenAreVotes.com with a GLOBAL VISION-an initiative to encourage and motivate women to leadership
This is all about empowering women to think LOCALIZED SOLUTIONS and ultimately the corridors of power for blanket solution to chronic problems
My vision for this is global, Rotary is global, hence I invite Rotarians to join me in encouraging and motivating women of the world
Social capital civil society and democracyAbad Agha
What is Social Capital? How to measure social capital? What is the link between democracy and social capital? How its stock can be increased? Where does it come from?
US, Pakistan, India Relationship and a Positive New World Order
Promote (if) any ideas appeal to you
I’m a firm believer in the competence, resilience & emotional intelligence of women
Hence I launched www.WomenAreVotes.com with a GLOBAL VISION-an initiative to encourage and motivate women to leadership
This is all about empowering women to think LOCALIZED SOLUTIONS and ultimately the corridors of power for blanket solution to chronic problems
My vision for this is global, Rotary is global, hence I invite Rotarians to join me in encouraging and motivating women of the world
China's Influence on Civil Society and Civic Space in Latin America and the C...FARO
The methodology of the study is based on an exhaustive bibliographic review of the specialized literature of the last ten years on the presence of China in the continent, the analysis of economic statistics and information obtained from interviews with academic experts in the field, as well as with leaders and members of civil society organizations (foundations, associations, social movements, environmental organizations).
A lo largo de sus 16 páginas, este documento desglosa los factores amenazantes percibidos en varias tipologías (actores estatales externos, organizaciones extremistas violentas y organizaciones criminales transnacionales) y detalla a continuación cuál es el papel de las fuerzas armadas del país frente a cada uno de estos problemas, en virtud de la Estrategia Nacional de Defensa (NDS, por sus siglas en Inglés).
China: Dimensions of the Dragon’s Rise in International Influence and Its Imp...CrimsonPublishersAAOA
Mao said, “The world is in chaos, the situation is excellent” [1].
China has achieved spectacular progress in face of immense difficulties. It has maintained a rapid pace of economic growth for over twenty-five years without significant political liberalization. In only three decades, China has risen to become a global economic power.
https://crimsonpublishers.com/aaoa/fulltext/AAOA.000507.php
For more open access journals in Crimson Publishers please click on link: https://crimsonpublishers.com/
For more articles in open access Archaeology journals please click on link: https://crimsonpublishers.com/aaoa/
Pathways for peace, inclusive approaches to peventing violent conflict.Christina Parmionova
Violent conflict is increasingly recognized as one of the big obstacles to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Its dramatic resurgence over the last few years has caused immense human suffering and has enormous global impact. Violent conflicts have also become more complex and protracted, involving more non-state groups and regional and international actors. And they are increasingly linked to
global challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, cyber security and
transnational organized crime. It is projected that more than half of the people
living in poverty will be found in countries affected by high levels of violence by 2030.
This is utterly contrary to the promise contained in the 2030 Agenda to leave no
one behind.
As the human, social and financial costs and complexity of violent conflict and its global impact grow, we must ask ourselves: how can the global community more effectively prevent violent conflict?
At the United Nations, we believe that prevention means doing everything we can to help countries avert the outbreak of crises that take a high toll on humanity, undermining institutions and capacities to achieve peace and development. We mean rededicating ourselves to the United Nations Charter, the mandate of Agenda 2030, protecting and respecting human rights, and ensuring that our assistance goes to those who need it the most.
Prevention should permeate everything we do. It should cut across all pillars of the United Nations’ work, and unite us for more effective delivery. This study is a contribution to our internal reflection on the broader challenges of prevention.
Chapter 1 Global Issues Challenges of GlobalizationA GROWING .docxtiffanyd4
Chapter 1 Global Issues: Challenges of Globalization
A GROWING WORLDWIDE CONNECTEDNESS IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION HAS GIVEN CITIZENS MORE OF A VOICE TO EXPRESS THEIR DISSATISFACTION. In Brazil, Protestors calling for a wide range of reforms marched toward the soccer stadium where a match would be played between Brazil and Uruguay.
Learning Objectives
1. 1.1Identify important terms in international relations
2. 1.2Report the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach in understanding the impact of new world events
3. 1.3Examine the formation of the modern states with respect to the thirty years’ war in 1618
4. 1.4Recall the challenges to the four types of sovereignty
5. 1.5Report that the European Union was created by redefining the sovereignty of its nations for lasting peace and security
6. 1.6Recall the influence exerted by the Catholic church, transnational companies, and other NGOs in dictating world events
7. 1.7Examine how globalization has brought about greater interdependence between states
8. 1.8Record the major causes of globalization
9. 1.9Review the most important forms of globalization
10. 1.10Recount the five waves of globalization
11. 1.11Recognize reasons as to why France and the US resist globalization
12. 1.12Examine the three dominant views of the extent to which globalization exists
Revolutions in technology, finance, transportation, and communications and different ways of thinking that characterize interdependence and globalization have eroded the power and significance of nation-states and profoundly altered international relations. Countries share power with nonstate actors that have proliferated as states have failed to deal effectively with major global problems.
Many governments have subcontracted several traditional responsibilities to private companies and have created public-private partnerships in some areas. This is exemplified by the hundreds of special economic zones in China, Dubai, and elsewhere. Contracting out traditional functions of government, combined with the centralization of massive amounts of data, facilitated Edward Snowden’s ability to leak what seems to be an almost unlimited amount of information on America’s spying activities.
The connections between states and citizens, a cornerstone of international relations, have been weakened partly by global communications and migration. Social media enable people around the world to challenge governments and to participate in global governance. The prevalence of mass protests globally demonstrates growing frustration with governments’ inability to meet the demands of the people, especially the global middle class.
The growth of multiple national identities, citizenships, and passports challenges traditional international relations. States that played dominant roles in international affairs must now deal with their declining power as global power is more diffused with the rise of China, India, Brazil, and other emerging market countries. States are i.
African Americans Today The Issues SOCY 3020-E01 Race .docxcoubroughcosta
African Americans Today
The Issues
SOCY 3020-E01 Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
Fall 2018
The Debate
There are plenty of controversial and complex issues affecting the African American community today.
These issues, factors, circumstances, and systems are constantly debated.
The Issues
Some of the most pressing issues faced by this minority group are:
Affirmative Action
Diversity in Schools
Economic Future
How Much Do We Know Each Other
Leadership Roles
Socialization of Media Stereotypes
Political Power and Representation
Race in our Modern Society
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is “the positive effort to recruit subordinate-group members including women for
jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities.” (Schaefer, 2002)
Some may argue that is still needed, others argue that is no longer needed and that ‘discrimination is
discrimination’ regardless of being positive discrimination.
Equally important are the questions of what will we do when we reach our equality goal and can we
reach it?
What are the chances for member of this minority group in our current society with or without
Affirmative Action?
One argument forwarded by Hugh Price from the Brookins Institution states that:
“Heightened reliance on quantifiable measure of merit, like SAT and ACT scores, overwhelms
consideration of valid qualitative indices of talent, merit and potential, like drive, determination,
leadership and communications skills.
This trend has placed African American and Latino youngsters at a decided disadvantage in the
admissions process at highly selective public institutions.”
The other arguments state that:
Affirmative action is no longer needed.
That we have become accustomed to this system.
That it has been in place for too long.
Others believe that we have reached that equality goal and the African American middle class has grown
exponentially because of it.
While others maintain that positive/reverse discrimination is still discrimination.
So you be the judge:
Is affirmative action social justice or reverse discrimination?
Diversity in Schools
The Harvard Civil Rights Project reported that “though the American school system is becoming more
diverse, ethnic groups remain isolated.
70% of African American students attend predominantly minority schools.
Whites on average attend schools where more than 80% of the student body is White.”
How does this affect race relations in the U.S.?
From a sociological perspective, the proximity principle can be discussed in relation to how we can
create and maintain bonds with people close to us. This in turn can affect how we see race and ethnicity
issues.
How much diversity and at different levels can have a socializing effect in all of us.
We also need to consider the effects of forced diversity versus natural diversity.
Are we mo.
With the fall of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europ.docxambersalomon88660
With the fall of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe, Russia's command economy opened up to the world. The resulting globalization brought about great economic and political changes. While the new market economy promoted growth and modernization, it also deepened the country's class divide. Further, the quick transition from a planned economy to a free market opened the door for rampant corruption. Oligarchs who where friends of the old state where sold sectors of industry for pennies on the dollar. So while globalization paved the way for industrialization and modernization, particularly in the oil industry in Russia, the corruption and class divide brought with it make it a double edged sword.
Like every country in the world, Russia enjoys the benefits of globalization. They have been active in world trade and financial markets. In doing so, they agree to the rules of the games established way before they decided to join. "The global financial system resembles a somewhat democratic society where the voice of a very powerful and representative segment of society is manifested not by vote, but by instant and unambiguous money flows" (Marmolejo, 2014).
However, Russia is new to this game. "The Moscow Exchange was established on December 19, 2011, by the merger of the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange and the Russian Trading System. The Moscow Exchange operates all financial assets across the board: equities, bonds, derivatives, currencies, money markets, and precious metals; in addition, the Moscow Exchange also operates Russia’s Central Securities Depositary and the country’s largest clearing service provider" (Marmolejo, 2014). It resides about in the middle regarding a current per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 (US), with an abundance of corruption, extreme ends of the spectrum regarding the haves and have nots, not to mention the many ethnic conflicts (Marmolejo, 2014). They are largely dependent upon the export of raw materials, such as oil, gas and other related products, but have "a third-world-like economic structure" (Marmelejo, 2014). Despite their antiquated economic structure, they have the largest landmass in the world with the 10th largest population in the world.
With Capitalization now taking over some previously communist countries, Putin is slowly destroying the country. His militarist attitude is going to put Russia back to where there were.
Marmolejo, M. (March 12, 2014). "Putin, Russia, Ukraine, and the Globalized World." Globalization: Opportunities & Implications. Retrieved on October 22, 2014 from url http://www.understandglobalization.com/2014/03/12/putin-russia-ukraine-and-the-globalized-world/
The global economy is an interconnected marketplace. Speaking from a political and economist perspective, globalization increases integration in the scope of business, values, technology, and various aspects of culture; it fosters interaction between people, organizations, and governments. In pertinen.
China Impact in the New Asia Convergence Shermon Cruz
A decade ago, many have projected that China, with her intent of catching up with the West, will rise and surprise the world in gigantic ways.
Today, China is perceive as the epitome of grand narrative and vision that work. It is obvious that China is no longer a subsidiary matter but the larger issue that everyone has to grapple with.
There are more questions than answers but the interest of this paper tried to probe these questions: Will the rest of Asia benefit from what we call the rise of China? What are the hard and soft prospects in light of China’s expanding influence? Will these prospects create new opportunities for Asia and thus create the new Asia convergence? Or China being China wins it all leaving behind the prospects of other Asian nations to grow?
China has always defied our expectations and will continue to do so. But one thing or perhaps more things are certain: China’s dreams and visions of the future may be the most powerful in the world and Asia could use it as leverage in creating an alternative path for Asia.
China's Influence on Civil Society and Civic Space in Latin America and the C...FARO
The methodology of the study is based on an exhaustive bibliographic review of the specialized literature of the last ten years on the presence of China in the continent, the analysis of economic statistics and information obtained from interviews with academic experts in the field, as well as with leaders and members of civil society organizations (foundations, associations, social movements, environmental organizations).
A lo largo de sus 16 páginas, este documento desglosa los factores amenazantes percibidos en varias tipologías (actores estatales externos, organizaciones extremistas violentas y organizaciones criminales transnacionales) y detalla a continuación cuál es el papel de las fuerzas armadas del país frente a cada uno de estos problemas, en virtud de la Estrategia Nacional de Defensa (NDS, por sus siglas en Inglés).
China: Dimensions of the Dragon’s Rise in International Influence and Its Imp...CrimsonPublishersAAOA
Mao said, “The world is in chaos, the situation is excellent” [1].
China has achieved spectacular progress in face of immense difficulties. It has maintained a rapid pace of economic growth for over twenty-five years without significant political liberalization. In only three decades, China has risen to become a global economic power.
https://crimsonpublishers.com/aaoa/fulltext/AAOA.000507.php
For more open access journals in Crimson Publishers please click on link: https://crimsonpublishers.com/
For more articles in open access Archaeology journals please click on link: https://crimsonpublishers.com/aaoa/
Pathways for peace, inclusive approaches to peventing violent conflict.Christina Parmionova
Violent conflict is increasingly recognized as one of the big obstacles to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Its dramatic resurgence over the last few years has caused immense human suffering and has enormous global impact. Violent conflicts have also become more complex and protracted, involving more non-state groups and regional and international actors. And they are increasingly linked to
global challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, cyber security and
transnational organized crime. It is projected that more than half of the people
living in poverty will be found in countries affected by high levels of violence by 2030.
This is utterly contrary to the promise contained in the 2030 Agenda to leave no
one behind.
As the human, social and financial costs and complexity of violent conflict and its global impact grow, we must ask ourselves: how can the global community more effectively prevent violent conflict?
At the United Nations, we believe that prevention means doing everything we can to help countries avert the outbreak of crises that take a high toll on humanity, undermining institutions and capacities to achieve peace and development. We mean rededicating ourselves to the United Nations Charter, the mandate of Agenda 2030, protecting and respecting human rights, and ensuring that our assistance goes to those who need it the most.
Prevention should permeate everything we do. It should cut across all pillars of the United Nations’ work, and unite us for more effective delivery. This study is a contribution to our internal reflection on the broader challenges of prevention.
Chapter 1 Global Issues Challenges of GlobalizationA GROWING .docxtiffanyd4
Chapter 1 Global Issues: Challenges of Globalization
A GROWING WORLDWIDE CONNECTEDNESS IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION HAS GIVEN CITIZENS MORE OF A VOICE TO EXPRESS THEIR DISSATISFACTION. In Brazil, Protestors calling for a wide range of reforms marched toward the soccer stadium where a match would be played between Brazil and Uruguay.
Learning Objectives
1. 1.1Identify important terms in international relations
2. 1.2Report the need to adopt an interdisciplinary approach in understanding the impact of new world events
3. 1.3Examine the formation of the modern states with respect to the thirty years’ war in 1618
4. 1.4Recall the challenges to the four types of sovereignty
5. 1.5Report that the European Union was created by redefining the sovereignty of its nations for lasting peace and security
6. 1.6Recall the influence exerted by the Catholic church, transnational companies, and other NGOs in dictating world events
7. 1.7Examine how globalization has brought about greater interdependence between states
8. 1.8Record the major causes of globalization
9. 1.9Review the most important forms of globalization
10. 1.10Recount the five waves of globalization
11. 1.11Recognize reasons as to why France and the US resist globalization
12. 1.12Examine the three dominant views of the extent to which globalization exists
Revolutions in technology, finance, transportation, and communications and different ways of thinking that characterize interdependence and globalization have eroded the power and significance of nation-states and profoundly altered international relations. Countries share power with nonstate actors that have proliferated as states have failed to deal effectively with major global problems.
Many governments have subcontracted several traditional responsibilities to private companies and have created public-private partnerships in some areas. This is exemplified by the hundreds of special economic zones in China, Dubai, and elsewhere. Contracting out traditional functions of government, combined with the centralization of massive amounts of data, facilitated Edward Snowden’s ability to leak what seems to be an almost unlimited amount of information on America’s spying activities.
The connections between states and citizens, a cornerstone of international relations, have been weakened partly by global communications and migration. Social media enable people around the world to challenge governments and to participate in global governance. The prevalence of mass protests globally demonstrates growing frustration with governments’ inability to meet the demands of the people, especially the global middle class.
The growth of multiple national identities, citizenships, and passports challenges traditional international relations. States that played dominant roles in international affairs must now deal with their declining power as global power is more diffused with the rise of China, India, Brazil, and other emerging market countries. States are i.
African Americans Today The Issues SOCY 3020-E01 Race .docxcoubroughcosta
African Americans Today
The Issues
SOCY 3020-E01 Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
Fall 2018
The Debate
There are plenty of controversial and complex issues affecting the African American community today.
These issues, factors, circumstances, and systems are constantly debated.
The Issues
Some of the most pressing issues faced by this minority group are:
Affirmative Action
Diversity in Schools
Economic Future
How Much Do We Know Each Other
Leadership Roles
Socialization of Media Stereotypes
Political Power and Representation
Race in our Modern Society
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is “the positive effort to recruit subordinate-group members including women for
jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities.” (Schaefer, 2002)
Some may argue that is still needed, others argue that is no longer needed and that ‘discrimination is
discrimination’ regardless of being positive discrimination.
Equally important are the questions of what will we do when we reach our equality goal and can we
reach it?
What are the chances for member of this minority group in our current society with or without
Affirmative Action?
One argument forwarded by Hugh Price from the Brookins Institution states that:
“Heightened reliance on quantifiable measure of merit, like SAT and ACT scores, overwhelms
consideration of valid qualitative indices of talent, merit and potential, like drive, determination,
leadership and communications skills.
This trend has placed African American and Latino youngsters at a decided disadvantage in the
admissions process at highly selective public institutions.”
The other arguments state that:
Affirmative action is no longer needed.
That we have become accustomed to this system.
That it has been in place for too long.
Others believe that we have reached that equality goal and the African American middle class has grown
exponentially because of it.
While others maintain that positive/reverse discrimination is still discrimination.
So you be the judge:
Is affirmative action social justice or reverse discrimination?
Diversity in Schools
The Harvard Civil Rights Project reported that “though the American school system is becoming more
diverse, ethnic groups remain isolated.
70% of African American students attend predominantly minority schools.
Whites on average attend schools where more than 80% of the student body is White.”
How does this affect race relations in the U.S.?
From a sociological perspective, the proximity principle can be discussed in relation to how we can
create and maintain bonds with people close to us. This in turn can affect how we see race and ethnicity
issues.
How much diversity and at different levels can have a socializing effect in all of us.
We also need to consider the effects of forced diversity versus natural diversity.
Are we mo.
With the fall of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europ.docxambersalomon88660
With the fall of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe, Russia's command economy opened up to the world. The resulting globalization brought about great economic and political changes. While the new market economy promoted growth and modernization, it also deepened the country's class divide. Further, the quick transition from a planned economy to a free market opened the door for rampant corruption. Oligarchs who where friends of the old state where sold sectors of industry for pennies on the dollar. So while globalization paved the way for industrialization and modernization, particularly in the oil industry in Russia, the corruption and class divide brought with it make it a double edged sword.
Like every country in the world, Russia enjoys the benefits of globalization. They have been active in world trade and financial markets. In doing so, they agree to the rules of the games established way before they decided to join. "The global financial system resembles a somewhat democratic society where the voice of a very powerful and representative segment of society is manifested not by vote, but by instant and unambiguous money flows" (Marmolejo, 2014).
However, Russia is new to this game. "The Moscow Exchange was established on December 19, 2011, by the merger of the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange and the Russian Trading System. The Moscow Exchange operates all financial assets across the board: equities, bonds, derivatives, currencies, money markets, and precious metals; in addition, the Moscow Exchange also operates Russia’s Central Securities Depositary and the country’s largest clearing service provider" (Marmolejo, 2014). It resides about in the middle regarding a current per capita GDP of approximately $18,100 (US), with an abundance of corruption, extreme ends of the spectrum regarding the haves and have nots, not to mention the many ethnic conflicts (Marmolejo, 2014). They are largely dependent upon the export of raw materials, such as oil, gas and other related products, but have "a third-world-like economic structure" (Marmelejo, 2014). Despite their antiquated economic structure, they have the largest landmass in the world with the 10th largest population in the world.
With Capitalization now taking over some previously communist countries, Putin is slowly destroying the country. His militarist attitude is going to put Russia back to where there were.
Marmolejo, M. (March 12, 2014). "Putin, Russia, Ukraine, and the Globalized World." Globalization: Opportunities & Implications. Retrieved on October 22, 2014 from url http://www.understandglobalization.com/2014/03/12/putin-russia-ukraine-and-the-globalized-world/
The global economy is an interconnected marketplace. Speaking from a political and economist perspective, globalization increases integration in the scope of business, values, technology, and various aspects of culture; it fosters interaction between people, organizations, and governments. In pertinen.
China Impact in the New Asia Convergence Shermon Cruz
A decade ago, many have projected that China, with her intent of catching up with the West, will rise and surprise the world in gigantic ways.
Today, China is perceive as the epitome of grand narrative and vision that work. It is obvious that China is no longer a subsidiary matter but the larger issue that everyone has to grapple with.
There are more questions than answers but the interest of this paper tried to probe these questions: Will the rest of Asia benefit from what we call the rise of China? What are the hard and soft prospects in light of China’s expanding influence? Will these prospects create new opportunities for Asia and thus create the new Asia convergence? Or China being China wins it all leaving behind the prospects of other Asian nations to grow?
China has always defied our expectations and will continue to do so. But one thing or perhaps more things are certain: China’s dreams and visions of the future may be the most powerful in the world and Asia could use it as leverage in creating an alternative path for Asia.
Silk Roads and Great Games: Prelude to Global Governance or Great Power Confl...
Fudan interview
1. Silk road initiative: Do not underestimate the potential dangers
and problems
Reporter: SUN Yining
Not enough attention is given to the conflicts that may arise at many levels.There
will be conflicts between the greatpowers,conflicts within the societies thatwill
benefitfrom the projects,and conflicts in China itself. These problems require
constantnegotiations and concessions to achieve powersharing and resources
sharing as well as guaranteed access to resources and multi-dimensional
connectivity.At national and internationallevels,there mustbe stronger social
organization and popularparticipation.
Reporter: The belt and road initiative consists of two main components, the
land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" (SREB) and oceangoing "Maritime
Silk Road" (MSR). What’s your view about China’s proposal of the belt and
road initiative? And what do you think is America’s attitude towards the belt
and road initiative?
Robert R. Bianchi
Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in China, Shanghai
International Studies University. Political scientist and
international lawyer with special interests in China and
the Islamic World. Lecturer at University of Chicago Law
School. Author of Islamic Globalization: Pilgrimage,
Capitalism, Democracy, and Diplomacy
2. Robert Bianchi: The initiative is filled with wonderful visions and ambitions, but it is
also filled with potential dangers. I am more concerned with the potential problems
and dangers. Not enough attention is given to the conflicts that may arise at many
levels. There will be conflicts between the great powers, conflicts within the societies
that will benefit from the projects, and conflicts in China itself. As far as the
Americans’ view of the Silk Road is concerned, there is no American view. Americans
don’t know much about it and don’t care much about it. The American government’s
attitude towards the idea is generally unfriendly or uninterested. Especially now,
America is completely distracted, because of its presidential politics, the Middle
Eastern problems, and Russia. In a strange way, these distractions are a blessing for
China and US relations. But they won’t last long; the heat is going to increase. As we
all know, the heat will go up and down.
Reporter: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is viewed as a supplement
of the Belt and Road Initiative. Until now, it is supported by 37 regional and
20 non-regional Prospective Founding Members (PFM). However, some
major economies including the United States, Japan and Canada did not
become PFM. What’s your view about that? And what’s your view about TPP
(Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement)and what do you think is the
profound influence of it?
Robert Bianchi: It’s viewed as a Chinese-led bank and as competition for the existing
economic institutions. Major economies will wait to see whether the new rival is an
opportunity or danger, whether this is going to be an open and universal community
or a club led by China. The older institutions are a club led by the US. Maybe we just
need a fair and open institution. It’s the same problem in the South China Sea and in
the Arctic Sea and with global climate change. Resources and territories are vital
needs that have to be shared as commons, not things to be divided or monopolized. So
the key issues are power sharing and resource sharing.
As for the TPP, China and the US have a lot to discuss. For instance, the South China
Sea, the Arctic passages, investment barriers, cyber warfare, intellectual property and
more. All of these questions revolve around mutual trust and future intentions. A
3. broad agreement of power sharing is the only way to avoid warfare and conflicts.
Reporter: Do you have any suggestions to strengthen the cooperation
between the two countries and improve bilateral relationship? What’s the
major cooperation fields and cooperation direction?
Robert Bianchi: China and the United States can improve bilateral relations by
negotiating mutually beneficial pacts on investment and trade, including joint ventures
in both countries that build on their leading positions in information sciences, finance,
higher education, mass transportation, and renewable energy. They can take the
initiative in managing and safeguarding contested and endangered global commons
that are vital to the peace and prosperity of all peoples, particularly the environment,
the oceans and sea lanes, scarce energy and natural resources, and outer space. These
ventures would require Chinese and American societies to change their perceptions of
themselves and one another—to move from mistrust and arms races toward
partnerships that offer their combined talents to the service of the entire planet.
Reporter: In one of your selected works, (Silk Roads and Great Games:
Prelude to Global Governance or Great Power Conflict?), you mentioned
that ”No matter how much Beijing hopes that its initiatives will promote
harmony and stability, they will also generate division and turbulence that
endanger its interests abroad and its well-being at home.” Would you please
tell us what kind of challenge China is going to face? And do you have any
proposals to help ease these tensions between China and international
community?
Robert Bianchi: China will be confronted with more risks abroad. China will
face more criticism of Chinese business operations by labor unions, by
environmentalists, by citizens’ groups, and other business rivals. These problems
can influence the domestic situation of China as well. Because there are so many
4. challenges and problems, I think China, the West and the Islamic world will need
to bargain more seriously as their destinies intersect. The kind of bargaining I
have in mind is an agreement for sharing resources and benefits. If we can agree
that the benefits of natural resources would be shared more fairly in the societies
where they originate, then we would have a much more stable and fair system and
a more peaceful world. Many of the conflicts between the great powers and the
revolutions and civil wars in the Islamic world and the areas of the Silk Road are
largely attributable to injustice and unfairness in distributing the benefits of
natural resources. In other words, a successful negotiation would yield
concessions about sharing power and resources as well as guaranteeing access to
resources.
Reporter: Connectivity is integral to the building of the Belt and Road. It
includes not only the physical connection of infrastructures, the soft
connection of rules and regulations, but also the connection between people.
Islamic countries along the belt and road are critical and crucial, and they
often become the hot topics due to their significant geographic position and
unique culture. What’s your view about that? And do you have any
suggestions to encourage a multi-dimensional connectivity between China
and the Islamic countries?
Robert Bianchi: That’s exactly what I am driving at: we need to talk more about
social participation, the spiritual and emotional dimensions. The missing element
of the Silk Road initiative is that it’s too hard wired. There is too much emphasis
on bullet trains and seaports and not enough emphasis on social organization and
popular participation.
Reporter: More specifically, what kind of practical measures can we take to
tackle the crisis exists in middle east, especially Iran, Israel, Iraq and
Afghanistan? What’s the role of China in addressing these issues and in
5. Islamic globalization?
Robert Bianchi: China can adopt a more active mediating role in managing and
eventually resolving many Middle Eastern crises. This requires applying Chinese
diplomatic talents to encourage compromises on three levels
simultaneously—between China and other great powers, between regional rivals
locked in stalemates and proxy wars, and within deeply divided nations that
depend on external assistance to end and recover from civil wars and ongoing
revolutions. In order to become an effective mediator, China would need to limit
its military involvement and assistance to United Nations peacekeeping missions,
emergency rescues of Chinese citizens, and humanitarian support. China will
have to try to build some kind of understanding and cooperation with US and
Russia. All of these great powers will have to work together to deal with the
turmoil in the Islamic world if we are to avoid repetition of ongoing tragedies in
Iraq, Syria, and Libya.