Understanding the soft power of China’s Belt and Road Initiative through a discourse analysis in Europe

Julie T Miao

doi:10.1080/21681376.2021.1921612

Abstract

ABSTRACT Taking a spatially sensitive approach to evaluating China’s quest of soft power, this paper conducted a media discourse analysis of European countries’ perceptions of China’s growing international influence in general, and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in particular. Preliminary analysis reveals regional diversity in media coverage of the BRI that was partially caused by a country’s position as a ‘discourse leader’, ‘discourse responder’ or ‘discourse follower’. In terms of the contents, this paper noticed a huge discrepancy among the European countries towards the potential impacts of the BRI and China’s rise in international affairs, and recorded a shift from a rather positive to a cautious attitude among the European Union’s leaders. It is suggested that China’s spatially blind approach to using soft power to promote BRI in Europe may be partly to blame for its limited success so far.

Highlights

AND PROGRESS OF Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) IN EUROPECurrent geopolitical disruptions and rebalancing as exemplified by Brexit and an ‘America First’ doctrine have offered China the stage and opportunity to push for a new world order (Portland, 2017)
Taking a geographically sensitive perspective, this paper explores China’s pursuit of soft power in promoting its BRI
Following the dominantly negative view led by the United States and Australia, many European countries, especially the ‘discourse leaders’, started to view the BRI as a symbol of China’s growing influence in international affairs, especially in some of the backwaters in Europe

Summary

Introduction

AND PROGRESS OF BRI IN EUROPECurrent geopolitical disruptions and rebalancing as exemplified by Brexit and an ‘America First’ doctrine have offered China the stage and opportunity to push for a new world order (Portland, 2017). ABSTRACT Taking a spatially sensitive approach to evaluating China’s quest of soft power, this paper conducted a media discourse analysis of European countries’ perceptions of China’s growing international influence in general, and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in particular.

Results

Conclusion