Call for Papers
For a Special Issue of
Asian Business & Management
Building Digital Silk Roads:
Integrating High-Tech Infrastructure in Belt and Road Regions
Guest Editors:
Jeoung Yul Lee – Hongik University, South Korea, and Chongqing Technology and Business
University, China Dilek Zamantılı Nayır – Turkish German University, Turkey
Fang Lee Cooke – Monash University, Australia
Asia's institutional environment has been undergoing a dynamic evolutionary process in terms of business development, economic growth, and novel policy experiments and initiatives (Liu, 2024a). The formation and emergence of regional cooperation and strategic initiatives is shaping the making of a new global order that involves embracing a multipolar world (Liu, 2024b). The "One-Belt-One-Road" or simply "Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)" is a massive transcontinental investment project aimed at infrastructural development and economic integration of the countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, along the route of the historic Silk Road (Chen et al, 2020; Jinchen, 2016). The BRI initiative has far-reaching consequences for the global economy and aims to foster connectivity not just through physical infrastructure like roads, railways, and ports, but also through digital infrastructure, including high-speed internet, data centers, and 5G networks (Triolo, 2020). The assistance provided through the so-called Digital Silk Road Initiative (DSR) contributes to the enhancement of recipients' telecommunications networks, bolstering artificial intelligence capabilities, advancing cloud computing infrastructure, fortifying e-commerce and mobile payment systems, fostering the development of surveillance technology, promoting the realization of smart city projects, and catalyzing progress in various other high-tech domains. The DSR has received little attention (Ly, 2020), although this aspect is expected to have significant consequences both in global economics and geopolitics (Hemmings, 2020), especially after the coronavirus pandemic (Zipser & Poh, 2021). A large portion of the geopolitical rivalry and tension associated with the BRI in the future is expected to revolve around the DSR and therefore a greater understanding of the connection between national economic growth and online connectivity is needed (Cette et al., 2005; Qiang, Rossotto, & Kimura, 2009; Venturini, 2009). The digital sector "is for the future what oil and currencies have been ... in the last century and a half" (Gordon & Nouwens, 2022).
As countries along the Belt and Road embark on large-scale digitalization projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Eurasian e-commerce networks with tech companies like Alibaba and JD.com facilitating the creation of e-commerce platforms; and transcontinental underwater projects to accelerate the construction of bilateral cross-border cable networks (Hernandez, 2019), the digital infrastructure is seen as a vital enabler for economic integration and trade among BRI countries. According to Shen (2018), preventing industrial overcapacity, supporting the international expansion of BRI technology firms, enhancing their global visibility, creating digital infrastructure and promoting an inclusive kind of globalization enabled by cyberspace are some of the goals of the DSR. However, disparities in technological readiness and access remain a significant hurdle.
In this special issue of Asian Business & Management, we want to shed light on how infrastructure gaps across BRI countries affect the implementation of widespread digital solutions, discuss what the digital divide between urban and rural areas means for equitable digital growth, and look into how cybersecurity risks raise vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks, fraud, and violations of data privacy across the region.
Some of the topics we want to address in this special issue are:
· Infrastructure Gaps in Rural and Remote Areas: Many BRI countries still lack the necessary digital infrastructure, making it challenging to implement widespread digital solutions (Swaine, 2015). For example, India has a significant portion of its rural areas with poorly connected road systems, limiting economic growth and access to services. How will enhanced digital connectivity facilitate faster intercontinental data exchange under these conditions?
· Digital Divide Between Urban and Rural Areas: The digital divide refers to the disparity between people with technology and those without, leading to unequal education and limited information access, ultimately impacting technological progress (Lythreatis et al (2022). For example, in China, areas in Gansu and Sichuan have limited broadband access, making it difficult for rural populations to engage in e-commerce or access online education. In the Phili p pines, while cities like Manila and Cebu enjoy reliable internet, many rural areas, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, still struggle with poor internet connectivity. Urban centers in Bangladesh like Dhaka have relatively good internet and mobile coverage, but many rural areas, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Barisal, still struggle with unreliable internet connections and lack of mobile data networks. Rural residents often have to rely on slower 2G networks, which limits access to information and digital services. Whereas it may not be commercially viable to connect sparsely populated areas, government policies and funding may incentivize widespread fiber broadband rollouts and ensure that remote and rural communities are not just connected but that they receive high-speed broadband. China aspires to assist underdeveloped nations in bridging the digital divide with the help of BRI (Arcesati, 2020), however will this be sufficient to enable equitable participation in the digital economy?
· Global Cities versus Non-Global Cities: In recent years, the emergence of global cities has been contrasted with the persistence of non-global cities in the BRI region (Goerzen et al, 2013). The influence of multinational corporations, international organizations, and global media on a city's image and developmental priorities is profound, often fostering narratives that promote economic growth or attract investment (Goerzen et al, 2024). These global forces shape local narratives, but urban communities can also resist or adapt to preserve their distinct identities and priorities. How do the characteristics of global versus non-global cities uniformly or variably affect global actors and local responses?
· Cybersecurity Risks and Data Privacy Concerns: The combination of AI technologies and the Digital Silk Road is leading to disruption in various industries, impacting both local economies and international trade dynamics. China's e-learning platforms, such as Tencent and Baidu, are leveraging AI to improve education systems in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. AI-powered personalized learning platforms adapt the curriculum to each student's pace and learning style, enhancing educational access and quality. However, Rizi and Seno (2022) claim that the growth in information and communication technologies has also raised worries about privacy and security. Increasing reliance on digital technologies raises vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks, fraud, and violations of data privacy. Companies and institutions may react in different ways to crises originating from such problems and whereas some entities may positively adopt or even emerge stronger, others may suffer from setbacks (Hoegl & Hartmann, 2021). How will BRI countries handle the issue of controlling the digital backbone of their economies? What role will continuous, massive and invisible surveillance of the data flows play here?
· Regulatory and Legal Barriers: Inconsistent regulations and lack of harmonization across countries create challenges for cross-border digital services and investments. The literature mentions volatile and uncertain legal and administrative environments, border and customs barriers but also digital infrastructure barriers as points to be considered (Zhai, 2018). For example, India has stringent data protection laws, such as the Personal Data Protection Bill, which is still under review. While these laws aim to protect citizens' data, they create barriers for businesses looking to operate in the country, particularly international tech companies from other BRI countries. Also countries such as China and Russia, have strong internet regulations that prioritize digital sovereignty. In China, the Great Firewall regulates internet access and restricts foreign platforms (e.g., Facebook, Google) from operating freely. Similarly, Russia has implemented the "sovereign internet" law which allows the government to isolate the country's internet from the rest of the world. What are the potential issues with the legal form/structure, ownership, capitalisation, decision-making process, and governance of digital institutions in the region?
· Limited Digital Literacy and Skills Gap: Many people in the BRI region lack the necessary digital literacy, making it harder to adapt to new technologies and leverage digital opportunities. On the other hand, Saleem et al (2021) document that disproportionate reliance on technology may result in addiction and distraction, hindering productivity and creativity and ultimately impeding technological advancement. How will the BRI Project enhance interconnection between digital literacy, affordable connectivity, and Information and communication technology infrastructures?
· Cultural Resistance to Technological Change: One of the key aspects that BRI comprises is people-to-people exchange (Huang, 2016) also with the help of new communication tools. The vibrant digital cultures of the region (most notably in terms IP specialisation or unicorns) showcase the region's economic, politic and social capacities (Horn et al, 2021). However, how will cultural factors in the BRI region affect adopting new technologies, and how will resistance, especially in traditional industries or among older generations, be overcome?
· Uneven Access to Capital for Digital Transformation: Previous studies have extensively discussed the importance of digitalization as a survivability and resilience instrument for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) (Klein & Todesco 2021; Costa & Castro, 2021). Digitalization may also improve SME performance through efficiency, innovation, and financial inclusion (Joseph and Dhanabhakyam 2021; Eller et al. 2020; Hermawan and Nugraha 2022). However, just as in many other parts of the world, also in the BRI region SME often struggle to access funding for digitalization initiatives, restricting their ability to innovate. How can challenges such as limited financial and human resources, inadequate access to essential infrastructure and the absence of long-term vision and strategies regarding data management, privacy protection and cybersecurity be overcome?
· Language Barriers and Localization Challenges: The BRI region shows great versatility with regard to cultural aspects, religions, languages, geographical settings and historical origins of societies (Cauquelin et al., 2014). Multilingual and multicultural landscapes in BRI regions may complicate digital content creation and user interfaces and lead to disinformation. Especially information disorders on digital platforms have been researched by communication researchers (Bennett & Livingston, 2018) and issues such as state-sponsored influence operations (Freelon et al., 2020), political astroturfing (Giglietto, Righetti, Rossi, & Marino, 2020), insurrectionist and identity movements (Reijven, Cho, Ross, & Dori-Hacohen, 2020), and partisan news outlets (Faris et al., 2017) have been discussed. But how do language barriers and localization challenges in the BRI region place additional burdens on this challenge, and how can these problems be tackled?
· Political Instability and Geopolitical Tensions: The technological cold war and the BRI are two concepts that have been interconnected in recent years, as technological rivalry, particularly between China and the United States, plays a crucial role in shaping the future of global infrastructure, digital trade, and international relations. The BRI is increasingly becoming a battleground for technological influence, leadership and innovation. However, a significant negative impact on innovation performance can be attributed to political instability. An atmosphere of regulatory uncertainty may result from frequent administration changes, political upheaval, and conflicts, potentially discouraging companies from investing in R&D projects (Wang et al, 2024). Also the smooth implementation of digital projects and investments in different industries may be hindered due to political instability and shifting geopolitical dynamics. From an investment standpoint, political threats and military conflicts may reduce bilateral investment between high-income countries and low-income countries in the region and lead to macrolevel shocks.
· Environmental Impact of Expanding Digital Infrastructure: Wang et al. (2023) have pointed out the significant environmental implications of BRI projects, particularly regarding increased resource extraction and energy consumption. Moreover, studies by Li et al. (2022) and Dong et al. (2024) have highlighted concerns over the sustainability of natural resource use in BRI countries, emphasizing the importance of adopting green development strategies and enhancing environmental governance to mitigate negative impacts. Since the expansion of digital infrastructure requires significant resources and energy consumption, the question is, how environmental sustainability will be attained in BRI countries.
Submission Timeline:
Manuscript Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025
Publication Date: Expected in September 2026
For further details, including submission guidelines, please refer to the journal's website at Asian Business & Management | palgrave.
We look forward to your contributions and to advancing this important topic on digitalization and BRI Regions.
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