Since China’s launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, considerable attention has focused on Beijing’s use of economic inducements to secure political and military influence. But can money buy allies? Inducements can be ineffective when the target state knows that the sender profits from giving the inducement, because the sender will give the inducement even without any concession.

Refreshments will be available in the Common Room from 15:30 and all are welcome.

Refreshments will be available in the Common Room from 15:30 and all are welcome.

Refreshments will be available in the Common Room from 15:30 and all are welcome.

Refreshments will be available in the Common Room from 15:30 and all are welcome.

Refreshments will be available in the Common Room from 15:30 and all are welcome.

On March 25, 2020, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed the world’s largest lockdown in a bid to stem the threat of COVID 19. The stringent lockdown triggered a mass exodus from cities across India, with panic-stricken people desperately trying to leave for their homes in villages, walking over hundreds if not thousands of kilometres. Who were these men, women and children streaming out of India’s cities? Why did they feel compelled to leave the economic engines of among the world’s fastest growing economies and return to their rural homes?

Refreshments will be available in the Common Room from 15:30 and all are welcome.