China’s BRI: Interrogating the Key Drivers of the International Economic Policy and how it Influences the Global Economic System

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18185030

Makhura B. Rapanyane¹, Gillian S. Mrubula-Ngwenya², Lebogang T. Legodi³, and Sethuthuthu L. Vuma⁴ (Political Studies and International Relations, North West University, Mahikeng, South Africa¹, University of Limpopo, South Africa^2,3,4)

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an international infrastructural policy strategy adopted by China in 2013 to promote investment in countries and international organisations worldwide. It is broadly understood that the People’s Republic of China seeks to connect Asia with Europe and Africa via land and maritime networks to revamp regional integration, expand trade and promote economic growth. Against this background, the current paper is aimed at interrogating the key drivers of BRI in the global world and also expanding on how BRI influences the global economic system. The article is aimed at arguing that China is rising fast in terms of gaining its global strategic position as an economic global hegemon through BRI. Methodologically, the paper is premised upon a qualitative research methodology that utilised a document analysis method of data collection.