Engaging with China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Understanding Why States Participate

This thesis explores why countries participate in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and what factors shape their level of engagement. Using a unique dataset of over 500 high-level BRI agreements from 2013 to 2022, it analyzes how deeply states engage based on the number and strength of their agreements with China. The study finds that trade ties, government effectiveness, and pro-China alliances increase engagement, while democratic states engage less. A case study of the Sino-Thai railway project reveals how host states negotiate and adapt BRI agreements, showing they have agency in shaping projects rather than just accepting China’s terms.