LASA/EANLAS: Rethinking Trans-Pacific Ties: Asia and Latin America

Belt and Road Initiative in Costa Rica: implications, risks and challenges through a realist lens

• In Event: Chinese presence in Central America & the Caribbean

Abstract

In 2018, Costa Rica became the second Central American country to sign a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement with China after Panama. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is one of the most ambitious infrastructure development projects aiming at creating a new frame for the international relations on the basis of win-win partnership. Nevertheless, there has been a vast debate on Chinses rise under the BRI project between the two International Relations theories; liberalism and realism. According to liberals, China has been socialized to the rules and norms of the international order pursuing a peaceful foreign policy. Whereas, the realists emphasize the anarchic structure of the international system explaining China will necessarily bring instability and conflict in the longer term. In short, liberal perspective focuses more opportunities with the project while the realists have offered more pessimistic conclusions. At the same time, China has provided active bilateral aids to Costa Rica in past years, promoting the initiative as a high-quality cooperation strategy of mutual benefits. Since the BRI project in Latin America is relatively recent, however, few research has been conducted on the impacts of China’s ascendency in Costa Rica. Therefore, the paper aims to contribute to the discussion on China's motivations of BRI project in Costa Rica by exploring the realist perspective. Finally, this study evaluates potential risks and challenges of Costa Rica regarding to its participation of BRI.

Author

• Jeongwon Lee, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies