The Silk Road as a Global Brand

In 2013, China launched its ambitious projects—the ‘21 st Century Maritime Silk Road’ and the overland ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’—backed strongly by Chinese investments. India, along with many other countries, was invited to join these initiatives. How will these gigantic connectivity projects—aimed at linking all of Asia with Europe and Africa—alter the world as we know it? What is India’s national interest here, and how should it respond? Perhaps, understanding the term ‘Silk Road’ itself would be a good first step towards an answer.