China's Global Image Making
The Belt and Road Initiative in the Islamic World
Summary
"This book provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of China’s strategic efforts to shape its global image through the Belt and Road Initiative in the Islamic world. By analyzing influential Islamic English news media, it sheds light on the historical and current relations between China and the Islamic world and offers valuable insights into future prospects and potential challenges. This book is essential for scholars and policymakers interested in comprehending China’s evolving global image and its impact on Sino-Islamic relations."
—Wu Fei, Qiushi Distinguished Professor, Director of International Communication Research Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
"It is increasingly important that, with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) now on the books for a solid decade, we begin to take stock of its global impact in granular terms. This timely, well-illustrated book, which explores the nexus of BRI and China’s image as constructed in select English-language news media, does that with compelling, insightful analyses and with effulgent statistical data to boot in, and about, a region that is an archetypal Islamic influence. "
—Cornelius B. Pratt, Professor Emeritus of Global Communication and Leadership, Temple University, Philadelphia, United States
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- About the author
- About the book
- This eBook can be cited
- Contents
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
- Chapter I Introduction
- Purpose of the study
- Significance of the study
- Objectives of the study
- Research questions
- An overview of the book
- References
- Chapter II China and Islamic World: The Mutually Beneficial Relationship
- Historical Silk Road connections
- Modern Sino-Islamic relations
- Mutually beneficial relationship
- References
- Chapter III China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Prospects and Challenges in the Islamic World
- Landscape of BRI
- BRI’s trajectory in the Islamic World
- Prospects and challenges
- Economic prospects and energy needs
- Strategic and political advantages
- Political and security challenges
- Collision of strategic interests
- Financial distress, debt trap, and local resentment
- Religious and cultural gaps
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter IV Framing National Image: China’s Global Image Making in Media
- National/Country image
- Media and national image
- Framing the national image
- China’s image framing (Construction) in News Media
- China’s image framing in the Western Media
- China’s image framing in African and Islamic News Media
- References
- Chapter V China’s Global Image Perception
- Chapter VI Research Methodology
- Content analysis
- Population
- Saudi Arabia (Arab News)
- Pakistan (The Nation)
- Turkey (renamed as Türkiye) (Daily Sabah)
- Iran (Tehran Times)
- Egypt (Daily News Egypt)
- Qatar (Al-Jazeera English)
- Data collection
- Sampling technique
- Conceptualizing and measurement
- Media attention intensity
- China’s image
- China’s Image dimensions
- Journalistic attitude
- Article size
- Effects of economic relations on China’s image
- Effects of political/government system on China’s image
- Effects of Belt and Road Initiative
- Intercoder reliability
- Research questions
- References
- Chapter VII Research Findings
- Descriptive statistics
- Media attention intensity
- Type of articles
- Tone of the articles
- Journalistic attitude
- Themes related to China
- Sub-Themes related to China
- China’s image construction, interpretation, and dissemination
- China’s image dimensions
- China’s technological image
- China’s economic image
- China’s social image
- China’s cultural image
- China’s political image
- China’s comparative image in the Islamic World
- China’s image in a specific Islamic Country
- China’s image dimensions, in particular, Islamic English News Media
- Effects of China’s political system on China’s image
- Effects of economic relationship on China’s image
- Effects of the Belt and Road Initiative on China’s image
- References
- Chapter VIII Discussion and Conclusion
- Discussion
- Research implications
- Theoretical implications
- Practical implications
- Limitations of the study
- Research directions and a way forward
- Conclusion
- References
- Appendix A. Coding Sheet
- Index
List of Tables
Table 3.1: China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and Its Trajectory in the Islamic World.
Table 3.2: China’s BRI Economic Corridors in the Islamic World.
Table 3.3: China’s Strategic and Cooperative Relationship with the Islamic Countries.
Table 3.4: An Existing and Estimated Size of Islamic Economy Market in U.S. Billion Dollars.
Table 5.1: China’s Favorable Image Perception in the Islamic World from 2005 through 2019.
Table 5.4: China’s Unfavorable Image Perception in the Western World from 2005 through 2020.
Table 5.5: Descriptive Statistics of Public Perception of China in Latin America during 2020.
Table 7.1: Type of Articles Related to China in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.2: Tone of the Articles Related to China in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.3: Journalistic Attitudes toward China-related Articles in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.4: Themes related to China Reported by Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.5: Sub-Themes related to China in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.6: China’s Image Construction by Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.7: Construction of China’s Image Dimension in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.8: China’s Technological Image in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.9: China’s Economic Image in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.10: China’s Social Image in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.11: China’s Cultural Image in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.12: China’s Political Image in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.13: Correlation Between China’s Global Image in the Islamic World.
Table 7.14: China’s Positive and Negative Images in the Islamic World.
Table 7.15: Coverage of China’s Image Dimension in Islamic English News Media.
Table 7.16: Positive and Negative Aspects of China’s Image Dimensions in the Islamic World.
I Introduction
The growing international discourses on China’s status as an “emerging global power” has reinvigorated the Chinese government’s commitment to focus more on China’s positive image promotion in the foreign public to convalesce its long-lost right of say in global affairs (Zheng, 2005; Cull, 2009; Gong, 2021; Jacob, 2020; Wang, 2011). It employs the new public diplomacy initiatives—the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) strategically to magnify its soft image and neutralize the stigmatization of China’s reputation in the globalized mediated societies.
The rapid information flow and digital transformation have revitalized the importance of a country’s reputation and favorable image in globalized and mediated societies. A country’s reputation and favorable image abroad have become more exigent than “territory, access, and raw materials” (Gilboa, 2008, p. 56) as they define the country’s political standing and space for political action through mutual understanding in the international system (Gilboa, 2008; Leonard et al., 2002; Schatz & Levine, 2010; Vickers, 2004; J. Wang, 2006). Therefore, nation-states dedicate all-out efforts to raise the country’s soft power, soft image, and soft esteem by establishing a strong, stable, and reputable country image in an antagonistic global environment (Kunczik, 2003; Melissen, 2005; Nye, 2005; Price, 2003; Werron, 2013).
A country’s image critically impacts its geopolitical influence and its action in the global governance system (Gilboa, 2008; Kunczik, 2016; Leonard et al., 2002; Sun, 2008; Van Ham, 2008; Vickers, 2004); international consensus- building (Wang, 2006); foreign direct investment (Kotler & Gertner, 2002; Kunczik, 2002); promotion of exports (Barr, 2012; Papadopoulos, 1993); attractiveness for foreign skilled labors (Papadopoulos, 2004), the opulence of national tourism industry (Gertner, 2010; Tapachai & Waryszak, 2000); educational systems (Gertner, 2010; Srikatanyoo & Gnoth, 2002); economic growth, national security, and advancing national interests (d’Hooghe, 2014; Han et al., 2012; Hartig, 2019). It has become even more critical in the newly mediated environment and is consistently rated and compared by foreign media, international organizations, and the foreign public based on its effectiveness and morality in political values, economic stability, domestic development, international policy, cultural prestige, etc. Therefore, the political leadership is always worried about a country’s overseas image (Kunczik, 2003; Price, 2003; Werron, 2013) and employed best communication practices to manage and promote the country’s positive image within the national state system and abroad (Dinnie, 2015; Dyke & Verčič, 2009; Kunczik, 2016; Snow & Taylor, 2008).
A nation’s image contributes to its international relations. Scholars (Leonard et al., 2002; Schatz & Levine, 2010; Vickers, 2004; Wang, 2006) argue that a favorable perception of a country by the foreign public can enhance its political standing and space for political action through mutual understanding in the international system. A positive national image is an important component of the nation-state’s strategic communication that enhances its soft power to attract, influence, and even shape the preferences of other nations without any punitive or coercive measures (Nye, 2005; Nye & Jisi, 2009). A country’s positive image builds public trust and strengthens public confidence in the country’s future. This public trust and confidence in the state later works as a currency for its future international credit ratings, foreign investments, and foreign exchange rates (Kunczik, 2003).
China’s multi-billion US dollar BRI enchants unique opportunities that can boost China’s global image. Scholars (Khan & Pratt, 2019) argue that BRI facilitates regional connectivity, improves financial integration, promotes free trade, strengthens systematic policy coordination, and people-to-people bonds in the developing world and, therefore, “it attracts global attention and is intent on improving China’s political stature, sociocultural reach, and economic standing on the global stage, not least in [Islamic] countries” (Khan et al., 2022, p. 2). Enabled by BRI, China’s economic engagements in the Islamic world can propel China’s positive image in the Islamic World and attract foreign public attention to promote trade, business, investment, exports, tourism, public diplomacy, and foreign policies abroad (Voon & Xu, 2020).
The Islamic world is beset with lingering regional disputes and faces subtle economic challenges. It needs substantial financial capital to rejuvenate its economic growth and renovate the much-needed infrastructure to deal with the evolving challenges of the 21st Century. China’s BRI aims to facilitate infrastructural development and cultural and policy dialogues among divergent national states. It promises regional connectivity, infrastructural development, financial and economic support, and unimpeded trade among Islamic countries that will eventually improve China’s global image and stature as a trustworthy global partner in the Islamic world (Jin et al., 2016; Khan & Pratt, 2019). China is hoping that the large investment in the shape of BRI will facilitate the “Chinese dream” of global leadership. It will stimulate a new wave of share globalization through the share development model which could improve the existing global governance and China’s image as a new global leader (Khan et al., 2018).
Details
- Pages
- XIV, 254
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9781433195808
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9781433195815
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9781433195570
- DOI
- 10.3726/b19534
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2024 (April)
- Keywords
- Islamic English News Media Islamic World Image Construction Framing Theory China’s Image Perception Belt and Road Initiative
- Published
- New York, Berlin, Bruxelles, Chennai, Lausanne, Oxford, 2024. XIV, 254 pp., 16 b/w ill., 31 tables.
