Wind of change: shifting narratives on China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Duisburg and Germany

Abstract

Global networks of megaprojects like China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) face growing geopolitical challenges that shape their success or failure. This paper investigates how the BRI’s symbolic value has transitioned from economic hope to strategic concern, driven by evolving geoeconomic and geopolitical narratives. Focusing on Duisburg and Germany the study employs the frameworks of symbolic economy and symbolic policy to unravel the complex, multi-scalar interactions within these intertwined netscapes. The findings reveal that traditional success and failure metrics, typically centred on economic and operational outcomes, are insufficient. Instead, the study underscores the importance of symbolic factors (e.g. image creation, the alignment with broader political/economic agendas) in determining the long-term viability and perception of megaprojects in an evolving geopolitical landscape.