China's Globalisation and the New World Order

Shifting away from the journalistic representations of the discourse, this book delves into the various contours that characterize China's recent globalization of infrastructure development. It analyzes how this 'form of globalization' nuances our understanding of development, altering the construct of development and thereby paving the way for the emergence of a global order crafted in China's own image. The book also elucidates how the growing Chinese influence should not be regarded as a novel phenomenon but rather as a reconstruction of the past and a continuation of the tradition of major power, often directed towards establishing a geostrategic, geopolitical, and geoeconomic niche. This signifies a broader shift in the structure of the global international system. As part of the tradition of major power, China's strategic hedging and positioning transcend not only material or concrete manifestations but also encompass epistemic hedging and positioning. The first section of the book examines international perspectives on the changing dynamics of the global order through the lens of China's epistemic contributions to the formation of a new world order or a multipolar world order. It explores the rivalry between China and existing Euro-American powerhouses and alternative approaches employed by China to assert itself. The book also devotes ample attention to the attendant implications of these emerging dynamics. The other section of the book delves into the reflections of regional actors on China's new role in a changing world order. It addresses the prospects and challenges of China's economic expansionism and the catalyzing effects of China's globalization of infrastructure within and beyond regions proximal to China.