Value Chains Transformation and Transport Reconnection in Eurasia: Geo-economic and Geopolitical Implications (Innovations in International Affairs)

"This book focuses on the geo-economic and geopolitical impact of value chains transformation on the transport-logistic reintegration of continental Eurasian countries, with a specific focus on the members of the Eurasian Economic Union. The author assesses the potential impact of current trends (global value chains fragmentation and decoupling) on Eurasian transport integration. The book combines in-depth analysis of the evolution of value chains and transport-logistics corridors across Eurasia with a geopolitical assessment of its implications for the EAEU's members' foreign and economic policy orientation. The author explores three key arguments: (1) the key to a successful and sustainable integration of the transport space of continental Eurasia is less the ongoing expansion of transcontinental transit, and more the participation in intraregional and transregional cross-border value chains, even though this process is increasingly tied to the question of the geopolitical and geo-economic orientation of continental Eurasia; (2) even in a more regionalised world economy, the economic complementarities between continental Eurasia and the two manufacturing blocks at the edges of the supercontinent, Europe and Asia, represent the greatest chance for continental Eurasia for larger participation in high value-added value chains; and (3) without diversifying trade and financial ties across Asia and normalising relations with the EU, the combined effect of shifting value chains location across the continent and China's ambiguous and flexible transport politics might turn an unprecedented chance into risk, augmenting competition among and within countries which are members of the EAEU over traffic volume, FDI, value chain participation, and ultimately geopolitical and geo-economic dividends. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of IR Theory, IPE, Geopolitics and Regional Studies, as well as the related subfields of transport geography, economic geography, and logistics"-- Provided by publisher This book focuses on the geo-economic and geopolitical impact of value chains transformation on the transport-logistic reintegration of continental Eurasian countries, with a specific focus on the members of the Eurasian Economic Union. The author assesses the potential impact of current trends (global value chains fragmentation and decoupling) on Eurasian transport integration. The book combines in-depth analysis of the evolution of value chains and transport-logistics corridors across Eurasia with a geopolitical assessment of its implications for the EAEU’s members’ foreign and economic policy orientation. The author explores three key arguments: (1) the key to a successful and sustainable integration of the transport space of continental Eurasia is less the ongoing expansion of transcontinental transit and more the participation in intraregional and transregional cross-border value chains, even though this process is increasingly tied to the question of the geopolitical and geo-economic orientation of continental Eurasia; (2) even in a more regionalized world economy, the economic complementarities between continental Eurasia and the two manufacturing blocs at the edges of the supercontinent, Europe and Asia, represent the greatest chance for continental Eurasia for larger participation in high-value-added value chains; and (3) without diversifying trade and financial ties across Asia and normalizing relations with the EU, the combined effect of shifting value chains location across the continent and China’s ambiguous and flexible transport politics might turn an unprecedented chance into risk, augmenting competition among and within countries which are members of the EAEU over traffic volume, FDI, value chain participation, and ultimately geopolitical and geo-economic dividends. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of IR Theory, IPE, Geopolitics, and Regional Studies, as well as the related subfields of transport geography, economic geography, Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 List of figures and tables 8 Introduction 10 1 Transport integration and value chains in continental Eurasia: limits and potential 17 2 The ‘continentalization’ of value chains: an opportunity for Eurasia transport integration 24 2.1 Europe’s value chains ‘go east’: a new manufacturing core 24 2.2 China’s value chains ‘go west’: new inland production hubs 26 3 The impact on east–west transit corridors: between integration and competition 28 3.1 The catalytic role of the BRI 28 3.2 The Northern Corridor: routes via Russia or via Kazakhstan/Russia 33 3.3 The Middle Corridor: the trans-Caspian route 37 3.4 The Southern Corridor: the Iran–Turkey route 39 4 Deepening trade ties with Asia: the future of Eurasia transport integration? 43 4.1 The rise of Eurasian-Asian trade 44 4.2 The rise of Asia’s FDI in continental Eurasia: first steps, future trend? 46 4.3 Current limits and risks of Eurasia’s transport integration in Asia’s value and supply chains 49 5 COVID-19 and the evolving EU–China relation: game changer for Eurasia transport integration? 53 5.1 COVID-19: a trend accelerator 53 5.2 The EU between overreliance on China and strategic autonomy: back to Europe? 55 5.3 China’s adjustment to a changing reality: the BRI between ‘dual circulation’ and Asia’s free trade agreement 57 5.4 Implications for Eurasia’s transport integration 61 Conclusion: geopolitical and geo-economic implications 65 References 70 Index 78 Transport,integration;,The,impact;,The,catalytic,role;,Deepening,trade,ties;,The,EU Transport integration,The impact,The catalytic role,Deepening trade ties,The EU