The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations

by Daniel Yergin

Belt and Road has not only become an organizing principle for Chinese foreign and economic policy. It has also become a bulwark of political, academic, and popular discourse. The number of academic articles in China dealing with BRI ballooned from 492 in 2014 to 8,400 in 2015. China, the world’s largest movie market, established the annual Silk Road International Film Festival to bring movie people together from a host of countries to encourage joint production and highlight films that celebrate BRI values. In a film called China Salesman, a Chinese mobile phone salesman outwits European rivals in a hard-fought battle for a contract in North Africa. In Kung Fu Yoga, Chinese and Indian archeologists team up to seek an ancient treasure. “We could increase the cooperation in archeological research between China and India,” declaims the Indian character. “It would also be in line with the One Belt One Road policy.” “So well said!” replies the Chinese character.11