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Paper abstract:

This paper is concerned with themes of urban development and governance. Specifically, I examine how the Chinese-administered Belt and Road Initiative may cater to the evolving needs of cities. To explore these themes, I ask the following research questions: does China cater to a new kind of urbanity? To what degree does the Belt and Road initiative seem to shape urbanity? The evolution of city needs in conjunction with the developing technological capacities globally has prompted a desire to integrate technology into urban life as well as urban governance, paving the way for “Smart Cities”. As we consider the implications of digital governance on authority and its relationship with its citizens, this paper discusses how technology engages with notions of increased individual autonomy while simultaneously succumbing to a new type of authority. Using academic literature and media news sources, I collected information on current developments in Kazakhstan in two cases, Nur-Sultan and Almaty. I argue that the Belt and Road does cater to new urban trends by promoting connectivity and innovative infrastructure. However, the trends are not created by the Belt and Road Initiative itself, rather they are present in the country of interest much like a river current is part of its geography. The Belt and Road Initiative, its projects, and its funding, steers these existing urban trends in a specific direction, shaping the riverbanks of domestic policy through naturally occurring abrasion. The findings of this paper point to three ways in which Chinese trends steer domestic trends: “hard” participation in local development through the lending or donating of resources. (i.e.. Tablets, gadgets, general tech, etc.); “soft” participation in local development through the exchange of ideas. (i.e.. Conferences, symposiums, etc.); and “independent” participation in local development through identified BRI projects. Considering the BRI’s focus on technology and telecommunication infrastructure, this essay explores an interesting relationship between the BRI and city needs and contributes to literature on governance and development.