1. Text: | Print|

      Silk Road, Marshall Plan comparisons unwise

      2014-11-24 08:53 Global Times Web Editor: Qin Dexing
      1

      A knowledge of history is important to understand current politics. It also often functions as an example for leaders shaping their decisions. But the main requirement for benefiting from history is its wise and prudent use.

      Only careful historical views can provide an antidote to present myopia. By contrast, the misuse of history leads to a distortion of information and uncomfortable misunderstandings.

      A recent example, which draws on the use and misuse of history, is related to the ongoing comparison of China's attempt to revitalize the ancient Silk Road with the US' decision to provide economic and military assistance to countries of Western Europe after WWII.

      In particular, some scholars endeavor these days to find a parallel between the European Recovery Program, widely known as Marshall Plan of 1947, and the "One Belt and One Road" initiative, namely, the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.

      To compare these two projects, an analysis of two different speeches is required. The first was given by former US secretary of state George Marshall in June 1947 at Harvard University. The second was given by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2013 at Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev University.

      Marshall spoke on the necessary rehabilitation of Europe. As he specifically said: "The truth of the matter is that Europe's requirements for the next three or four years of foreign food and other essential products - principally from America - are so much greater than her present ability to pay that she must have substantial additional help, or face economic, social and political deterioration of a very grave character."

      The amount to be provided to European nations amounted, at that time, to $13 billion. A few months earlier, in March 1947 the US had already decided to directly assist Greece and Turkey.

      In his speech, Xi focused on China's policy of good-neighborly and friendly cooperation with countries of Central Asia. By laying the emphasis on history, he excluded the scenario of Beijing creating spheres of influence in Central Asia and elaborated on the concept of collaboration, peace and common prosperity.

      Xi also shared his hope for better policy communication and living conditions, infrastructure works, efficient transportation and monetary circulation. In that regard, he referred to the central role of China in providing aid by creating a fund worth of $40 billion.

      The speeches of both Marshall and Xi can be certainly connected due to their common reference to the commitment of both the US and China to support other countries. A fundamental difference, however, is evident. It is related to the context the speeches were given.

      On one hand, the Marshall Plan was part of Washington's attempts to contain the expansionism of Soviet Union and prevent Western Europe from falling into communism.

      On the other hand, the "One Belt and One Road" initiative will be undertaken in a period in which the world is becoming highly multipolar.

      In other words, the Cold World bipolar structure finds no resonance in today's era. In parallel with this, the confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union has no analogy nowadays.

      Although some scholars in the West suspiciously interpret the rise of China and predict some tensions with Washington in the future, a larger number of analysts remember the parameters of globalization and economic interdependence and cautiously warn of the risk of a mutually asserted destruction in the case of serious conflicts in the 21st century.

      All in all, Xi gave his speech at Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev University without denoting the existence of an opponent in the international arena. This does not of course mean that the Chinese leader should refrain from proposing and implementing plans that can strengthen the international position of China in the globalized era. This is how the "One Belt and One Road" initiative might be better understood.

      A comparison between the Marshall Plan and the "One Belt and One Road" project offers food for interesting observations regarding the new world order of the 21st century and international relations in general. More importantly, it stresses the need to efficiently study and teach history. This cannot be achieved if context and different circumstances are ignored.

      Comments (0)
      Most popular in 24h
        Archived Content
      Media partners:

      Copyright ©1999-2018 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved.
      Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

      主站蜘蛛池模板: 精品免费人成视频app| 久久精品成人免费观看97| 午夜国产精品免费观看| 亚洲精品中文字幕无乱码| 在线免费观看国产视频| 亚洲AV无码一区二区三区人 | 无码精品人妻一区二区三区免费 | 国产高清在线免费视频| 久久亚洲中文无码咪咪爱| 美女被免费视频网站a国产| 久久久久亚洲精品天堂久久久久久 | 香蕉成人免费看片视频app下载| 国产亚洲综合成人91精品| 人人玩人人添人人澡免费| 亚洲高清资源在线观看| 999国内精品永久免费观看| 国产精品亚洲综合五月天| 国产成人免费高清在线观看| 国产精品亚洲一区二区无码 | 国产高清不卡免费视频| 精品亚洲麻豆1区2区3区| 色窝窝免费一区二区三区| 亚洲AV无码专区国产乱码不卡| 亚洲不卡无码av中文字幕| 成年网站免费入口在线观看| 亚洲精品无码久久千人斩| 99re热精品视频国产免费| 国产精品V亚洲精品V日韩精品| 男女一进一出抽搐免费视频| 老司机亚洲精品影院无码| 99久久免费精品国产72精品九九| 羞羞的视频在线免费观看| 国产∨亚洲V天堂无码久久久| 24小时免费看片| 国产精品亚洲专一区二区三区| 国产亚洲精品美女久久久| 成人爽A毛片免费看| 国产精品hd免费观看| 亚洲成av人片不卡无码| 亚洲第一黄片大全| 24小时在线免费视频|