Introduction

Since the introduction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), or One Belt, One Road (OBOR), academics have begun to study this new policy and its implications in the age of globalization. While the ambitious undertaking provides new opportunities for China in terms of regional cooperation and global development, many also raise concerns about China’s intentions in using economic means to achieve strategic and foreign policy objectives. In this comprehensive study, we strive to develop a deeper and wider understanding of the BRI, using multiple analytic lenses, scholarly disciplines, and country/regional perspectives. We can see that consensus has not been reached about what BRI is, how it may affect others, and how it may evolve. What is clear, however, is that BRI will have a large and significant impact beyond the Asia-Pacific region. BRI will have cultural, administrative, physical, and economic effects that will be felt for years to come.