SAM Downtown – Saturday University Lecture Series

The 21st Century Silk Road: China’s Belt and Road Initiative
David Bachman, University of Washington

China’s Belt and Road Initiative marks a major expansion in China’s growing world in international affairs. It now includes land and maritime silk roads, an arctic silk road and a digital silk road. Much of the developed world sees the Belt and Road as a Chinese strategy and power play, leading to debt traps and Chinese imperialism. But China’s motives are multiple and while there are indeed significant downsides to the Belt and Road, it is filling a number of global needs and national aspirations of the countries China works with.

About the Presenter

David Bachman is Professor of Political Science and former Chair of the China Study Program at the University of Washington.South Hall doors open at 9:30 am.