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Leadership-building dilemmas in emerging powers’ economic diplomacy: Russia’s energy diplomacy and China’s OBOR

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  • Xiaoguang Wang

    (China University of Petroleum)

Abstract

Discussions of the roles of emerging powers in a changing world have been simmering for many years, with many arguing that non-Western powers should build an alternative global order given the growing influence of their money, natural resources, manpower, and products. Focusing on Russia and China, this article argues that both Russia’s energy diplomacy and China’s One Belt One Road policy are mostly ‘mercantile’ in handling their respective domestic challenges over the short and medium terms and do not help build political leadership. The economic structures of the two strongest emerging powers do not support strategies that require the disbursement of economic resources to build an alternative global order—if these two countries truly have such a strategy. This article challenges the myth of emerging powers and suggests that the economic strength of these emerging powers is insufficient to radically shift the diplomatic status quo of a Western-dominated world order.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoguang Wang, 2020. "Leadership-building dilemmas in emerging powers’ economic diplomacy: Russia’s energy diplomacy and China’s OBOR," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 117-138, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:asiaeu:v:18:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s10308-019-00536-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10308-019-00536-4
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