Book Review: Der Lange Marsch 2.0 – Chinas Neue Seidenstraßen als Entwicklungsmodell

The Belt and Road Initiative has sparked a discussion about a new phase in global economic integration and the potential reordering of the international system. Uwe Hoering, a German journalist and development policy expert with extensive experience covering China's role in Asia and Africa, offers a timely and accessible introduction to this vast subject in his book "Der Lange Marsch 2.0" (The Long March 2.0).

The title itself is instructive. The original Long March—the Communist Party's legendary retreat across China in 1934-35—serves as one of the founding myths of the People's Republic. By framing the Belt and Road Initiative as a "Long March 2.0," Hoering signals both the scale of China's ambitions and the ideological dimensions that underpin what is often presented as a purely economic undertaking.

Domestic Drivers

One of the book's strengths lies in its attention to the domestic factors driving the BRI. Hoering begins by examining China's internal economic challenges: industrial overcapacity, slowing growth, and the need to develop the country's western regions. The BRI, in this reading, serves as much to address problems at home as to project influence abroad.

This perspective offers a useful corrective to analyses that focus exclusively on China's geopolitical ambitions. Hoering shows how the initiative emerged from the intersection of domestic economic imperatives and foreign policy objectives—neither purely strategic nor purely commercial, but both simultaneously.

Corridors and Complications

The book systematically examines the major corridors comprising the BRI, from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to the maritime routes threading through Southeast Asia and across the Indian Ocean. Hoering draws on case studies to illustrate both the potential benefits and the complications that have emerged.

He is particularly attentive to tensions that have arisen in host countries: concerns about debt sustainability, environmental impacts, labour practices, and the limited economic benefits flowing to local populations. Myanmar's suspension of a major dam project and the renegotiation of projects in Malaysia feature as examples of pushback against Chinese investment terms.

Critical Perspectives

Hoering does not shy away from critical analysis. He questions whether the BRI's rhetoric of "win-win cooperation" matches the reality on the ground. His examination of resource extraction, dam construction, and infrastructure financing raises important questions about environmental and social impacts that deserve more attention than they typically receive in celebratory Chinese media coverage or breathless Western reporting.

Yet as some reviewers have noted, the book's critical lens is trained more consistently on China than on comparable Western practices. Mining operations by Australian and Canadian firms, labour violations by European textile companies, and the strings attached to Western development aid receive less scrutiny. A more comparative approach might have strengthened the analysis.

Accessible Introduction

At 160 pages, "Der Lange Marsch 2.0" does not attempt comprehensive coverage of a subject that could easily fill multiple volumes. Its value lies in providing an accessible entry point for German-language readers seeking to understand the basic contours of the BRI—its origins, scope, and implications.

The Stiftung Asienhaus, which co-published the book, has made supplementary materials available online, including chapter excerpts. An English translation has since been released as a free PDF download, extending the book's reach beyond German-speaking audiences.

Limitations and Value

Any book on the BRI faces an inherent challenge: the initiative is a moving target. Developments since publication—project cancellations, debt renegotiations, and shifting geopolitical alignments—have already overtaken some of Hoering's analysis. This is less a criticism of the author than an acknowledgment of the difficulty of writing about a phenomenon still very much in flux.

Hoering himself acknowledges this limitation, describing the book as a "snapshot" of a rapidly evolving situation. For readers seeking detailed analysis of specific projects or comprehensive data on investment flows, more specialised sources will be necessary. But as an introduction that situates the BRI within broader discussions of development, geopolitics, and globalisation, the book serves its purpose well.

Conclusion

The geoeconomic competition sparked by the Belt and Road Initiative has only intensified since this book's publication. European responses, American counter-initiatives, and evolving attitudes in BRI partner countries continue to shape the landscape. Hoering's book provides a foundation for understanding these dynamics, even as events continue to unfold.

For those new to the subject, "Der Lange Marsch 2.0" offers a solid starting point. For those already familiar with the BRI, it provides a useful synthesis of key issues from a European development perspective. In either case, it contributes to the essential task of understanding one of the most consequential economic initiatives of our time.

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