The Global Asia Initiative director, Dr. Prasenjit Duara’s paper The Chinese World Order in Historical Perspective: Soft Power or the Imperialism of Nation-States? was recently published on the Social Science Research Network. Dr Duara explores the genealogy of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and novelties in the new Chinese order. He examines BRI as it relates to the imperial Chinese world order as well as the historical sequence of modern imperialism, the ‘imperialism of nation-states’ during the inter-war and Cold War period as well as the post-Cold War notion of ‘soft power’. The paper also investigates the nuances shaping the new realms of power such as debt, the environment and digital technology.

The Duke Global Working Paper Series hosted by Duke University Center for International and Global Studies (DUCIGS) provides a space for scholars from across the disciplines to explore international topics. DUCIGS welcomes submissions from Duke experts and affiliated scholars. Papers in this series are published to the Social Science Research Network. This series is edited by the DUCIGS director, Dr. Giovanni Zanalda.