TITLE:
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Strategic Belt and Road Initiative in the Light of Cultural Convergences and Divergences between Egypt and China: A Systematic Review
AUTHORS:
Safaa Shaaban, Yasmine Abdel Moneim
KEYWORDS:
Culture, Hofstede & GLOBE Models, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), COVID-19
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.8 No.9,
September
7,
2020
ABSTRACT: China
unveiled a historical initiative named the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI)
launched in 2013, by the Chinese President “Xi Jinping” which will extend the
Chinese influence to large regions of the world through a network of roads,
ports and airports’ infrastructure projects. It represents China’s desire to
revive the old Silk Road in order to reshape the world’s powers by the creation
of a new balance in the International System. The MENA region is ranked as one
of the highest areas in the era for Chinese investment. Egypt is considered as
one of the top countries which will take part in this investment in the MENA
region and Africa. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the
Convergences and Divergences between Egypt and China from a cultural
perspective using Hofstede and GLOBE Models and their impact on the strategic
cooperation between both countries towards the Belt and Road Initiative and the
impact of COVID-19 on this initiative. The methodology of this study is to
review researches and studies conducted and published in the period from 2010 to 2019. More than 13 studies were identified for analysis and
study. The study yields to three results in both Hofstede and GLOBE Models: 1) in
LTO China scored higher than Egypt; 2) both
China and Egypt were scored closer to collectivism; and 3) In
PDI, China has scored higher than Egypt but not that much as the difference
is only 10. However, in the GLOBE Model, the differences in PDI and IDV
dimensions are not as great as in Hofstede Model.