Infrastructure, Integration, and the Reconfiguration of Globalism: A Comparative Analysis of the Gulf Railway and China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

The contemporary international system is undergoing a profound transformation marked by the gradual erosion of liberal globalism and the rise of regionally anchored, infrastructure-driven connectivity frameworks. Traditional models of globalization, built on the free flow of goods, capital, and information, are increasingly challenged by rising economic nationalism, geopolitical rivalries, and supply chain vulnerabilities. Within this evolving landscape, infrastructure has emerged as a central instrument of power, shaping economic corridors, political alliances, and strategic influence. This study examines two emblematic initiatives—the Gulf Railway and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—as case studies of infrastructure-driven integration at regional and transregional scales. The Gulf Railway represents a strategic effort to link the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), enhancing trade, mobility, and intra-regional cohesion. The BRI, by contrast, constitutes a global network of transport, energy, and digital corridors designed to expand China’s economic and geopolitical reach across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Through a comparative analysis, the research highlights convergences and divergences between these projects, particularly in governance, scale, strategic objectives, and regional implications. The study adopts a geo-economic framework to analyze how infrastructure can simultaneously foster economic development and serve as a tool for strategic competition. By situating the Gulf Railway and BRI within broader debates about the reconfiguration of globalism, the paper argues that these projects reflect a shift from Universalist globalization toward a fragmented, corridor-based global order. The findings underscore the growing importance of infrastructure in shaping twenty-first century power dynamics and provide insights into how states navigate the interplay of regional integration, strategic autonomy, and global connectivity.

Keywords: Globalism; Belt and Road Initiative; Gulf Railway; Geo-economics; Regional Integration; Infrastructure Diplomacy; GCC; Connectivity Politics; Strategic Corridors; Fragmented Global Order