Hunza matters

Ordering and bordering between ancient and new Silk Roads

Kreutzmann Hermann

• Publisher: Harrassowitz Verlag
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN:
  9783447113694
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9783447199612
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Central Asian History
• Index: History

Since the mid-19th century, boundary-making in the Pamirian Crossroads had involved the redefining of contested spheres of influence between Great Britain and Russia. Remote mountain microstates had enjoyed a comparatively high degree of autonomy from their immediate neighbours. The incorporation of the Hunza Valley into the British-Kashmirian realm followed a successful military intervention. The colonial project has significantly affected living conditions in the Hunza Valley. Hunza matters addresses the transformation from four perspectives. First, the changing physical infrastructure are analysed from a road perspective. Initially, pack animals and porterage were involved in crossing high passes. Daring geostrategic projects emerged, shedding light on early plans for connecting British India with China by motor road. Much later the Karakoram Highway was built. The latest stage of infrastructure development is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Second, environmental resource utilisation strategies have changed over time. Emphasis has shifted from a predominantly agriculture-based economy towards a market-oriented income generation including extractivism, remittances and services. Third, bordering and ordering is strongly linked to actors and factors. Fourth, new light is shed on prevalent myths that are associated with Alexander the Great and the Silk Roads, longevity and an ideal state. A developmentalism discourse has been transformed in Chinese occupation narrative. All four perspectives are displayed on the basis of archival evidence that has been collected from a wide range of sources, augmented by empirical material collected during four decades.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Titel
• Imprint
• Contents
• Avant-propos
• Introduction
• From Hunza Road to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
• Support axis for General Chiang Kai-shek – a road through the Hunza Valley
• Post-colonial nation-building through trafc networks
• From Indus Valley Road to Karakoram Highway
• Connecting networks to make an international highway
• Link roads connect people, villages and highway
• New highway and old problems
• Karakoram Highway Improvement Project – the second phase
• A web of mountain arteries in the age of global silk roads
• Resource perspective – Spatial patternsin a diverse environment
• From factors to actors – Karakoram congurations
• A plethora of Hunza myths revisited
• Epilogue
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index
• Backcover