Florian Schneider is Chair Professor of Modern China at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies. He is managing editor of Asiascape: Digital Asia and author of numerous books and articles on political communication and media in China.

• Prelims Acknowledgements 1. Introduction (Florian Schneider) Part I: Global Connectivity 2. China's BRI and International Cooperation in Higher Education and Research: A Symbiotic Relationship (Ingrid d'Hooghe) 3. Understanding China's varied choice of agreements and institutions related to the BRI in the areas of Trade, Tax and Development Finance (Michael Sampson, Jue Wang, & Irma Johanna Mosquera Valderrama) Part II: Regional Dynamics 4. The BRI in Latin America: New Wine in Old Bottle? (Matt Ferchen) 5. Ascertaining Agency: Africa and the Belt and Road Initiative (Stacey Links) 6. Parameters and Pathways: Agency in the case of the Southern African Development Community (Stacey Links) 7. Over Hills and Valleys too: China's Belt and Road Initiative in the Caribbean (Ruben Gonzalez-Vicente) Part III: Local Actors 8. The Geopolitical Relevance of the BRI: The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway in Indonesia (Frans-Paul van der Putten & Mirela Petkova) 9. Elite Legitimation and the Agency of the Host Country: Evidence from Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand's BRI Engagement (Cheng-Chwee Kuik) 10. The Two Faces of the China Model: The BRI in Southeast Asia (Matt Ferchen) 11. The Belt and Road Initiative in South Asia: Regional Impact, and the Evolution of Perceptions and Policy Responses (Richard Ghiasy) 12. Geographic Agency: The Case of Iran as a 'Civilizational Crossroads' in the 'Silk Roads' (Mohammadbagher Forough) 13. Exploring the political, economic and social implications of the digital silk road into East Africa: the case of Ethiopia (Sanne van der Lugt)

"This book strikes a nice balance between examining the breadth of the BRI while providing the depth of analysis necessary to understand local contexts. Unlike similar volumes that only dedicate one or two chapters to China’s influence outside of Southeast Asia, this book provides a more inclusive global perspective. [...] The detail of the local-level analysis and the geographic scope of BRI activities examined in the book set it apart from the existing literature. Interdisciplinary work is desperately needed to create a flow of information among researchers and across academic departments. This book does just that, showing that instead of retreating into our own departmental echo chambers, we should seek out and celebrate the unique benefits each field contributes to our understanding of the BRI and China’s impact on the world."- Sarah Sklar, Boston University, The China Journal, No. 87 (2022)