Geopolitics as Structural Accumulation

Abstract

This article argues that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is determined by both domestic economic imbalances and international strategy—not just by economic or geopolitical motives alone. The authors identify four key pressures in China (industrial overcapacity, high savings, limits on technology absorption, and rising local debt) that led to the BRI’s creation, which in turn has major geopolitical impacts. Contrary to the common ―debt trap‖ narrative, the article finds that dependency on China often arises from the financial structures of Chinese loans rather than a deliberate strategy to gain control. This means countries can become dependent even if China does not intend it. The authors recommend that Global South nations strengthen their negotiating power and evaluation processes to secure better financial terms. Overall, the BRI constitutes a complex, evolving mix of economic management and geopolitical interests, not a simple policy of hegemony or pure economic necessity