Chapter 5 examines artefacts-the physical objects of itinerancy and their associated heritage diplomacy. Chapter 4 looks at various BRI projects (particularly the sea corridors), focusing more on infrastructure and the use of historical narrative and heritage to foster international cooperation. Chapter 3 explores instances in which key political actors in Asian states have appropriated the historic Silk Roads. The second chapter traces the Silk Road as a geocultural form that has its origins in the late nineteenth century and that was shaped by modern geopolitical and cultural events. Winter introduces this highly accessible book by explaining his motivations for writing the book and by providing an overview of his framework and approach. This short introduction outlines the book's key contributions and provides a quick overview of the accompanying reviews and a brief discussion of future research agendas. Winter's Geocultural Power extends discussions of the spatial configurations of BRI and argues for more critical attention to be paid to the wider historical narratives, particularly from the late nineteenth century (the Great Game) to the twentieth century (Cold War), that support these configurations in the modern era, as China revives ‘a theater of geopolitics and great-power accumulation’ (2020, p. BRI mobilizes cultural and historical narratives of the Silk Roads, and at times reworks such narratives, to create and sustain China's geopolitical outreach.
Focusing on contemporary Chinese narratives of ancient Silk Roads, Winter provides a strong account that highlights how the Chinese government engages heritage and history in support of the geopolitical and economic aspirations of BRI's infrastructural plans.
Tim Winter's (2019) Geocultural Power joins this body of work, shedding new light on the cultural politics of BRI. For example, geographers have examined the spatial imaginaries of the Polar region that are part of an expansive BRI ( Woon, 2020), going beyond the dominant Eurasia-centered analysis geographers have also examined BRI's financial dimensions together with China's wider trajectory of foreign policy ( Lai et al., 2020). The most recent scholarship on BRI has brought attention to topics that have been relatively neglected or completely ignored elsewhere. Geography is no exception, with analyses of geopolitics, economic geographies, and transport geographies related to BRI proliferating to this day ( Flint & Zhu, 2019 Sidaway & Woon, 2017). Everything at this stage is just old school rumours.Since its launch in 2013, China's highly ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen a plethora of coverage across disciplines. Add to that Gabriel Martinelli being in the same two-year contract no-man’s land (there is an additional year option) and undoubtedly frustrated by a lack of playing time, and there could be even more movement.Īll of which is speculation built around what is, well, also speculation. If Arsenal are truly interested in Lang then it is with a long-term plan in mind, one that would suggest the departure of Pepe is on the cards.ĭespite operating predominately off the right, Pepe’s increasingly frustrating form and upcoming contract situation open the door for some activity in wide areas. Their absences will be felt, but £30m+ isn’t going to be parted with for the sake of a few matches. These are links that refuse to die down despite Arsenal currently being well stocked in forward areas, with the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe to AFCON probably what is helping stir up speculation of a winter move.
The 22-year old recently made his debut for the Netherlands national team ??Īrsenal transfer update on Noa Lang January bid as Club Brugge prepare for concrete interest from Mikel Arteta’s side and AC MilanĪC Milan are the other side heavily linked, albeit the player’s preference being to move to the Premier League, although across the media you can find links attributing West Ham, Leeds and Newcastle with a big-money swoop.īrugge are said to want around £34m for Lang, who has nine goal involvements in 17 matches in all competitions this season, during which time he’s played through the middle, on the left and at No.
West Ham have expressed an interest in exciting Dutch winger – Noa Lang