ABOUT THE BOOK

In conjunction with its meteoric rise in the economic spheres, China’s new initiative of One Belt One Road (OBOR) is attracting global attention for its grand scale of potentially connecting Asia, Africa, Europe (and South America) through the much needed infrastructure projects. It is a grand vision of ushering in a new international order albeit based on Chinese characteristics, with an elaborate programme of galvanizing domestic and international audience through not only wider publicity but also constructive and competitive involvement of various stake holders. It has massive budgetary outlays of over $900 billion [of which $50 billion invested so far] out of a required $8 trillion in investments. OBOR projects promise to provide huge opportunities for the domestic manufacturing, financial and tourism sectors to operate and enhance their influence at the global and regional levels.  

The OBOR provides several opportunities and challenges to many states and non-state actors in the international system at a time when the Global Financial Crisis and Eurozone Crises are intensifying. If the investments in the infrastructure projects across Asia, Europe and Africa (and South America) materialize, then these possibly could trigger economic opportunities across the regions. This has been the main theme of the official discourse in China. However, many political leaders, scholars, officials and media across the globe raise queries on any “hidden” agenda behind the OBOR projects. These are related to the Chinese efforts to    influence or dominate the international and regional orders, deployment of military and para-military forces, exploration of bases and others. Global and major powers are currently re-adjusting their policies towards the Chinese initiative of OBOR, calculating potential benefits and losses in its trail, and have been making their own initiatives. These aspects are explored extensively in the current volume – both on the functional aspects as well as the bilateral equations and responses of many a country for the OBOR projects.

The volume is divided into two major sections with the first focusing on the major ideas, initiatives, programmes and components of the OBOR, the domestic political debates and participation, ancient cultural and economic roots of the Silk Road, political economy aspects, connectivity plans across the continents, maritime dimension, energy issues, media perceptions and others. The second section focuses on the responses and perceptions of various countries to the OBOR initiative. 

As the OBOR idea is of recent origin, this volume – with its in-depth focus on a number of related issues – is indispensable for the decision and policy makers across the globe as with the academic and media communities. 

ABOUT Author

Srikanth Kondapalli is Professor in Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is Chairman of the Centre for East Asian Studies, SIS, JNU thrice from 2008-10, 2012-14 and 2016-18. He is educated in Chinese studies in India and China with a Ph.D. in Chinese Studies. He learnt Chinese language at Beijing Language & Culture University and was a post-Doctoral Visiting Fellow at People`s University, Beijing from 1996-98. He was a Visiting Professor at National Chengchi University, Taipei in 2004, a Visiting Fellow at China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, Beijing in May 2007, an Honorary Professor at Shandong University, Jinan in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016; at Jilin University, Changchun in 2014 and at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming in 2016, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at People`s University since 2014 and a Fellow at Salzburg Global Seminar in 2010. He wrote two books (China`s Military: The PLA in Transition in 1999 & China`s Naval Power in 2001), two monographs, co-edited four volumes (Asian Security & China in 2004; China and its Neighbours in 2010; China`s Military and India in 2012 and China and the BRICS: Setting up a Different Kitchen in 2016) and a number of articles in journals and edited volumes – all on China. He received the K.Subramanyam Award in 2010 for Excellence in Research in Strategic and Security Studies. He can be reached at srikondapalli@gmail.com

Hu Xiaowen is an Assistant Professor in Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, Yunnan, China. Currently, she is appointed as China India Scholar-Leader Fellow at India China Institute of The New School, New York, USA. She completed writing her PhD thesis at Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. Her research focuses on Indian foreign policy, Indian think tanks, BCIM and China-India Relations. Her works have been published in Global Review, Academic Forum, Chinese Social Sciences Weekly, Southeast and South Asian Studies, etc. She can be reached at effiehu@hotmail.com