Slovenia and Croatia in the Chinese 16+1 Initiative:Proactive and Reactive government approaches

摘要

The aim of this thesis is to shed a light on the development of two Western Balkan states,Slovenia and Croatia,inside the16+1initiative.Meaning that the main focus of this work is to show how relations between the two counties towards China have shaped through recent time,mostly focusing on the period shortly before and during the creation of the16+1format.Of course this work also aims to illustrate what16+1in itself is,how it was started and how it took shape and developed from its inception to today.This work tries to describe the mayor events that had an impact on relations between China and the two Western Balkan countries,details the proactive and reactive Croatian and Slovenian governmental approaches to16+1and tries to give context to the events that have had an impact on16+1cooperation.
　　We claim in this work that the Slovenian and Croatian approach to the16+1format is influenced by a multitude of factors and that it cannot be judged as either positive or negative,but that the two Western Balkan country's approaches are fluid,evolve over time and depend on a myriad of underlying factors.In the case of Slovenia we have found that polity size,local political culture,recent bad experiences with energy investments,a cultural aversion to its own political elites and other factors are the reason why Slovenia's reaction to16+1can at first glance appear as subdued.But we also find that Slovenia is actively trying to pursue its interest through16+1where the country perceives that it can find success,for example through its developed private sector or specific areas of cooperation,such as forestry,Olympic games infrastructure and others.The Croatian approach on the other side,we mainly argue was influenced by different governments'that were in power during the16+1format's existence.While at first the Croatian government under the SDP political party was not interested in16+1and has shown reactive approaches to the initiative,afterwards,with a change in power,the new Croatian political elite has normalized and stabilized its approach to16+1and is now being much more proactive towards the16+1format.
　　The thesis is divided into six chapters.The first chapter tries to tie in our topic into the existing theoretical landscape.The second chapter focuses on the16+1initiative itself,trying to briefly explain its characteristics and then moves on to a yearly overview of the genesis of the initiative,giving an overview on how the format has formed and changed through the time of its inception until today.The third chapter puts the focus on one country of the16Central and Eastern European Countries that participate in16+1,that country is Slovenia.The fourth chapter then shifts its attention to the case of Croatia and16+1.The following chapter tries to compare the two countries and their similarities and differences in regard to16+1.While the last chapter tries to give an outlook on future trends of16+1and tries to give a conclusion to our work.

目录

声明

Abstract

Table of Contents

Introduction

Background and meaning

Literature review

Methodology

Outline

1．Theoretical framework

1．1．Realism，Institutionalism and Constructivism

1．2．Bilateralism，Multilateralism and Economic Diplomacy

1．3．Proactive and Reactive govermnent approaches

2．The 16+1 Initiative

2．1．An introduction

2．2．16+1 Summit evolution

2．3．Conclusion

3．Slovenia in the 16+1

3．1．Typicality of Slovenia among the 16 CEEC

3．2．Infrastructure

3．3．Energy

3．4．Other fields of cooperation

3．5．Slovenian problems and successes in the 16+1

3．6．Conclusion

4．Croatia in the 16+1

4．1．Typicality of Croatia among the 16 CEEC

4．2．Infrastructure

4．3．Energy

4．4．Other fields of cooperation

4．4．1．Tourism

4．4．2．Culture

4．4．3．Education

4．4．4．Local

4．5．Croatian problems and successes in the 16+1

4．6．Conclusion

5．Comparing Slovenia and Croatia in the 16+1

5．1．Similarities

5．2．Differences

6．Future trends of Slovenian and Croatian participation in 16+1

6．1．Opportunities

6．2．Challenges

6．3．Conclusion

Bibliography