Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

This research project conceptualizes media as ‘soft power,’ capable of defining a nation’s strategic interests to audiences through the construction of strategic media narratives. These narratives provide the public with the visions for world order, expectations regarding the future of global competition and conflict, and the expected role of nations as responsible actors towards their domestic populations. Through narrative storytelling of events and issues, economic realities and aspirations, political and military alliances, and the world order as a whole, media can persuade and/or inhibit populations toward engaging, or disengaging, with defined actors; and in so doing, challenge global powers in their respective spheres of influence. The primary goal of this research is to determine how media in two countries, Russia and China, present these strategic media narratives. The elements of ‘soft power’ are often presented as diplomatic, information, military and economic (DIME). Researchers quantitatively examine media coverage of DIME elements, as it relates to the future of global competition and conflict. In addition, researchers model Russian and Chinese regional media influence by identifying their key strategic narratives, the penetration of these narratives into surrounding regional media, and the messaging strategies employed.