The Soft (Power) Side of the Belt and Road Initiative: Connecting Southeast Asia

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been described in a variety of ways, such as a grand strategy or a geopolitical endeavor to (re)position China at the centre of the Eurasian landmass and beyond. It is undeniable that the initiative can also be understood as an ambitious connectivity masterplan, but of what type of connectivity? Although geoeconomic implications are often found in the literature, the soft (power) side of the BRI is generally downplayed. However, this paper argues that, whether deliberate or not, a soft-economic blend of strategies is increasingly evident and relatively successful. Connectivity developments across Southeast Asia, including but not limited to long-awaited railways, are a prime example of this unraveling phenomenon. By investigating the interaction between the multiple dimensions of connectivity – physical, digital, and sociocultural – it is possible to appreciate the complex dynamics of attraction and inducement arising from BRI-related efforts, and what it means for the future of the region and the initiative itself.