Singapore University of Social Sciences

POL214 Belt and Road in Southeast Asia facilitates dialogue between students and industry players to develop students’ understanding of the modus operandi of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia, one of the key destinations for BRI investments. Students will learn how ASEAN member states, including Singapore, have engaged with China under the BRI, and find out about the economic and geopolitical impact of the initiative on the region. The course begins with a background to the BRI and an overview of Southeast Asia’s infrastructure needs. Through case studies of ASEAN member states, students will gain insight into how domestic and regional issues pose challenges to the implementation of BRI projects and, ultimately, how Southeast Asia’s relations with China may evolve with the growing trade and connectivity afforded by the BRI.