The geopolitical divisions of the Mediterranean and China’s impact on them

The main research question this paper sought to answer is formulated as it follows: Is the Chinese presence going to increase or decrease the geopolitical divisions in the Mediterranean? The Chinese foray into the Mediterranean is the final element of the New Silk Roads and Beijing’s projection towards the Mediterranean is a fact that cannot be merely denied or welcomed. The Mediterranean is neither politically nor economically united: many reasons for division prevail in the numerous regions. However, Mare Nostrum is also characterized by some particular forms of cohesion. Concerning the Chinese objectives and impacts on Mediterranean geopolitics, scholars’ views are extremely varied and opposing. It is difficult to give a clear answer about what the economic impacts of Chinese investments are and whether these favour unity or divisions in the Mediterranean area. For the purposes of this paper, the Mediterranean is considered as a geopolitical region. For this reason, the paper is structured in such a way that it first deals with the geopolitics of the Mediterranean and with the existence of the multiple and different spaces of the Mediterranean and finally with the Chinese projection and its impact on Mediterranean spaces.