This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative’s (BRI) impact on Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, which are three strategically situated Southeast Asian nations bordering China. The BRI, a large-scale development plan and infrastructure network, has been associated with economic growth and negative consequences, such as sovereign debt crises and human trafficking. By employing a comparative case study methodology, this paper will investigate the economic, s... show full abstractThis thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative’s (BRI) impact on Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, which are three strategically situated Southeast Asian nations bordering China. The BRI, a large-scale development plan and infrastructure network, has been associated with economic growth and negative consequences, such as sovereign debt crises and human trafficking. By employing a comparative case study methodology, this paper will investigate the economic, social, and environmental consequences of the BRI in these countries, using dependency theory as a framework. This research aims to fill gaps in existing literature due to the scarcity of English sources and the lack of critical perspectives from Chinese academics, which limits comprehension of the adverse effects of the BRI in the region. This study will conduct case studies on the China-Laos Railway (Laos), Nam Ou River Cascade (Laos), Oil and Gas Pipeline Project (Myanmar), Myitsone Dam (Myanmar), and the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in these countries, investigating the BRI's impact on their economic dependency on China and its connection to human trafficking in the region. |