Building Digital Silk Roads:
Integrating High-Tech Infrastructure in Belt and Road Regions
Guest Editors:
Jeoung Yul Lee – Hongik University Seoul, South Korea, and Chongqing Technology and Business University, China - jeoungyul@hongik.ac.kr
Dilek Zamantılı Nayır – Turkish German University, Turkey – dilek.nayir@tau.edu.tr
Fang Lee Cooke – Monash University, Australia - fang.cooke@monash.edu
Submission Timeline:
Manuscript Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025
Publication Date: Expected in September 2026
The Asian Business & Management journal invites submissions for a special issue on the Digital Silk Road (DSR), a key component of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The DSR aims to enhance digital connectivity across Asia, Europe, and Africa through high-tech infrastructure like 5G, AI, e-commerce, and smart cities. Despite its geopolitical and economic significance, the DSR remains understudied, particularly regarding challenges such as infrastructure gaps, cybersecurity risks, and regulatory barriers.
Key Themes and Research Questions
1. Infrastructure Gaps & Digital Divide – Many BRI regions, especially rural areas, lack reliable digital infrastructure, limiting economic and educational opportunities. How can equitable digital growth be achieved?
2. Cybersecurity & Data Privacy – Increased digitalization raises risks of cyberattacks and surveillance. How will BRI countries manage data governance and security?
3. Regulatory & Legal Barriers – Cross-border digital services face inconsistent regulations (e.g., China's Great Firewall, India's data laws). How can legal harmonization be improved?
4. Digital Literacy & Skills Gap – Low digital literacy hinders technology adoption. How can BRI initiatives enhance digital education and workforce readiness?
5. Cultural & Language Barriers – Multilingual and multicultural landscapes complicate digital content localization. How can disinformation and resistance to tech adoption be addressed?
6. Geopolitical Tensions – The U.S.-China tech rivalry impacts BRI digital projects. How does political instability affect innovation and investment?
7. Environmental Sustainability – Expanding digital infrastructure increases energy consumption. How can BRI countries balance growth with green development?
This special issue seeks interdisciplinary research to explore these challenges and opportunities, contributing to a deeper understanding of the DSR's role in global digital transformation.
For more information and the full call, please visit the Asian Business and Management (Palgrave) website or see the attached link: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/journal/41291/authors/aut-cfp-language