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A Synergy of Failures: Environmental Protection and Chinese Capital in Southeast Europe
[journal article]
Abstract Chinese economic presence in Europe is primarily discussed as a security threat with its impact on sustainability remaining a rather marginal issue. This article investigates the repercussions of Chinese capital’s surge in Europe for environmental protection and analyses the reasons behind its poor ... view more
Chinese economic presence in Europe is primarily discussed as a security threat with its impact on sustainability remaining a rather marginal issue. This article investigates the repercussions of Chinese capital’s surge in Europe for environmental protection and analyses the reasons behind its poor performance. We examine five key Chinese projects in Southeast Europe, a sub-region that includes countries with different forms of association with European institutions and with varying levels of development and state capacity. We find that the negative environmental impact of these projects cannot be attributed to the commonly held perception of the Chinese as inherently “bad” investors and of host states as “weak” and dependent. Rather, we identify a synergy of failures between investors, host states and regional institutions that results in poor regulation and compliance. This finding calls for the inclusion of sustainability in foreign investment screening mechanisms and the abandonment of contradictory developmental priorities in the region.... view less
Classification
International Relations, International Politics, Foreign Affairs, Development Policy
Ecology, Environment
Free Keywords
Southeast Europe; China; Sustainable Development; Belt and Road Initiative
Document language
English
Publication Year
2019
Page/Pages
p. 171-200
Journal
Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, 48 (2019) 2
ISSN
1868-4874
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed