Project Head: Prof. Dr. Peter Dannenberg

Investigator: Lisa-Michéle Bott (PhD student), Johanna Fellbrich (Master student)

International partners: Prof. Nicholas Phelps (University of Melbourne), Julie Tian Miao (Senior Lecturer), Xiao Zhang (PhD student), Zhuoya Kang (PhD student)

Funding: DAAD (01/ 2020 – 12/2021)

Abstract:

This project aims to examine China´s emerging Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as  ‘beltscapes’ as a potential new format of global connectiveness and planetary urbanism.
 

Introduction:

This proposed study aims to analyse 1. explore the impact of BRI on urban development and 2. urban planning in the endpoint cities. Empirically, the study will analyse primary and secondary data on the impacts of BRI on foreign direct investment, patterns of industry specialization/diversification, urbanization and fiscal position of city governments. This includes media and document analysis and qualitative interviews with stakeholders.

Publication:

Fellbrich, J. (2025). Regional development implications of the Belt and Road Initiative–a case study of Darwin. Regional Studies, Regional Science, 12(1), 895-908

Fellbrich, J., Sielker, F., Phelps, N., & Dannenberg, P. (2025). Wind of change: shifting narratives on China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Duisburg and Germany. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 18(2), 403-418. DOI: 10.1093/cjres/rsaf006