This thesis examines China’s investment programme the Belt and Road initiative, through the theory of neo-colonialism. The aim is to categorise to what extent the BRI in Laos embodies patterns of neo-colonialism and additionally what agency Laos has in its economic and political relationship with China. The purpose of the research is to broaden the perception of neo-colonialism and contribute to the notion that all developed countries, not only western powers, can have a neo-colonial relationship with developing countries. This is done by examining China’s economic influence and political interference in Laos through the BRI and further by unpacking the complexities of power relations, economic dependencies, and local agency. The study uses a single case-study format to test the theory of neo-colonialism on the BRI in Laos. Drawing on a range of academic literature, policy documents, and news articles the study concludes that China’s BRI in Laos shows patterns of neo-colonialism to some extent, but that Laos still has some agency both economically and politically in its relationship with China.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-530799 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Rosengren, Rebecka |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Statsvetenskapliga institutionen |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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