Geopolitical constraints on China’s soft power: A framing analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative coverage in Italian news media

D'Arma, A. and Xin, X. 2026. Geopolitical constraints on China’s soft power: A framing analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative coverage in Italian news media. Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849261442977

TitleGeopolitical constraints on China’s soft power: A framing analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative coverage in Italian news media
TypeJournal article
AuthorsD'Arma, A. and Xin, X.
Abstract

This article examines the framing of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Italian news media between 2017 and 2023, a period that captures Italy’s full trajectory of engagement with the initiative: from early optimism and eventual participation to disillusionment and withdrawal. Italy occupies an exceptional position: it was the first and only G7 country to sign a BRI Memorandum of Understanding in 2019 despite longstanding Western alignments, and the first country to officially terminate its participation. Drawing on a soft-power perspective, the study shows that Italian coverage was initially favourable, presenting the BRI as an economic opportunity. Over time, however, economic coverage receded as the dominant interpretive frame moved toward security, strategic rivalry, and concerns over China’s political intentions. While existing research on BRI news coverage has focused largely on Global South contexts, Western cases shaped by entrenched alliance structures remain understudied. The Italian case demonstrates that China’s soft-power appeal is conditioned by geopolitical alignments and media discourse: attraction and strategic positioning coexist, and frequently collide, within the communicative environments where narratives are produced and contested.

KeywordsBelt and Road Initiative (BRI); Italy; framing analysis; content analysis; China; Soft Power; media and geopolitics; international news
JournalJournalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism
ISSN1464-8849
Year2026
PublisherSAGE Publications
Publisher's version
License
CC BY-NC 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849261442977
Publication dates
Published online25 Apr 2026

Related outputs

Screen Encounters with Britain in the Age of Transnational Streaming
D'Arma, A., Esser, A. and Steemers, J. 2026. Screen Encounters with Britain in the Age of Transnational Streaming. Routledge.

Public Service Media and Entertainment: The Challenge of Engaging Younger Audiences
D'Arma, A., Esser, A., Hilborn, H. and Steemers, J. 2026. Public Service Media and Entertainment: The Challenge of Engaging Younger Audiences. in: Balčytienė, A., Balčytienė and Sousa, H. (ed.) Digital Media Shadowing Democracy: Technology, Communication, and Power Gothenburg, Sweden Nordicom.

Xinhua: Asserting global leadership
Xin, X. 2026. Xinhua: Asserting global leadership. in: Boyd-Barrett, O., Aguiar, P. & Vukasovich, C. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of News Agencies Routledge.

Book review: Changing Geopolitics of Global Communication by Daya Kishan Thussu
Xin, X. 2025. Book review: Changing Geopolitics of Global Communication by Daya Kishan Thussu. International Journal of Communication. (19), pp. 1742-1745.

Philanthropy, big donors, and communication in Europe: Mapping the cases of Germany and Italy
Labio-Bernal, A., Romero-Domínguez, L. R. and D'Arma, A. 2025. Philanthropy, big donors, and communication in Europe: Mapping the cases of Germany and Italy. Communication & Society. 38 (1), pp. 445-463. https://doi.org/10.15581/003.38.1.032

Screen encounters with Britain. What do young Europeans make of Britain and its digital screen culture? Final Report
Esser, A., Steemers, J. and D'Arma, A. 2025. Screen encounters with Britain. What do young Europeans make of Britain and its digital screen culture? Final Report. Kings College London. https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-204

Public Service Journalism in Digital Markets
D'Arma, A., Michalis, M., Ferrell Lowe, G. and Zita, M-B. 2025. Public Service Journalism in Digital Markets. in: D'Arma, A., Michalis, M., Ferrell Lowe, G. and Zita, M-B. (ed.) Challenges and Developments in Public Service Journalism London University of Westminster. pp. 1-21

How are News Agencies Coping with Digital Disruption in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? The Case of Xinhua
Xin, X. 2024. How are News Agencies Coping with Digital Disruption in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? The Case of Xinhua . in: Orgeret, K.S. and Mutsvairo, B. (ed.) The Palgrave Handbook of Global Digital Journalism Palgrave Macmillan. pp. pp 181–194

Public Service Media as Enablers of Epistemic Rights
Michalis, M. and D'Arma, A. 2024. Public Service Media as Enablers of Epistemic Rights. in: Horowitz, M.A., Nieminen, H., Lehtisaari, K. and D'Arma, A. (ed.) Epistemic Rights in the Era of Digital Disruption Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 97-109

Public Service Media: Challenges for delivering universal public service in the platform age
D'Arma, A., Steemers, J. and Raats, T. 2024. Public Service Media: Challenges for delivering universal public service in the platform age. in: De Gruyter Handbook of Media Economics De Gruyter.

Public Service Media and the Internet: Two Decades in Review
D'Arma, A., Barclay, S. and Aslama Horowitz, M. 2024. Public Service Media and the Internet: Two Decades in Review. International Journal of Communication. 18, pp. 248-267.

Contextualising Soft Power in China
Xin, X. 2022. Contextualising Soft Power in China. International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 2022. (online), hosted by Tsinghua University, Beijing, China 11 - 15 Jul 2022

Xinhua News Agency
Xin, X. 2022. Xinhua News Agency. in: The SAGE Encyclopedia of Journalism Thousand Oaks, CA Sage. pp. 1781-1784

(Re-)Popularizing Party Journalism in China: A Qualitative Study of Xinhua News Agency's Online Media Content
Xin, X. 2022. (Re-)Popularizing Party Journalism in China: A Qualitative Study of Xinhua News Agency's Online Media Content. in: Zhang, S.I. (ed.) Digital Journalism in China London Routledge. pp. 36-47

Digital disruptions, IA and News Agencies: The Case of Xinhua News Agency
Xin, X. 2021. Digital disruptions, IA and News Agencies: The Case of Xinhua News Agency. International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 2021. held online, with a regional hub in Nairobi, Kenya 11 - 15 Jul 2021

The Future of Public Service Media and the Internet
D'Arma, A. 2021. The Future of Public Service Media and the Internet. in: The Public Service Media and Public Service Internet Manifesto University of Westminster Press.

(Un)welcome guests: VoD platforms and the new rules on European works quotas in Italy
D'Arma, A. and Gangemi, G. 2021. (Un)welcome guests: VoD platforms and the new rules on European works quotas in Italy. Journal of Digital Media & Policy. 12 (3), pp. 451-470. https://doi.org/10.1386/jdmp_00078_1

Public service media in the age of SVoDs: A comparative study of PSM strategic responses in Flanders, Italy and the UK
D'Arma, A., Raats, T. and Steemers, J. 2021. Public service media in the age of SVoDs: A comparative study of PSM strategic responses in Flanders, Italy and the UK. Media, Culture & Society. 43 (4), pp. 682-700. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443720972909

Book review: Willing Collaborators: Foreign Partners in Chinese Media
Xin, X. 2020. Book review: Willing Collaborators: Foreign Partners in Chinese Media. Global Media and Communication. 16 (2), pp. 259-261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1742766520912176

Advocating for public service media: Scholarship and praxis
Aslama Horowitz, M., D'Arma, A. and Chin, Y. 2020. Advocating for public service media: Scholarship and praxis. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture. 11 (2), pp. 129-133. https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc_00014_2

Why advocate for public service media? Perspectives from organizations for media development
Aslama Horowitz, M., D'Arma, A. and Michalis, M. 2020. Why advocate for public service media? Perspectives from organizations for media development. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture. 11 (2), pp. 261-268. https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc_00023_7

Soft Power to Whom? A Critical Analysis of the Publicity Film “CPC (Communist Party of China) is With You Along the Way” in Relation to China’s Soft Power Project
Xin, X. 2020. Soft Power to Whom? A Critical Analysis of the Publicity Film “CPC (Communist Party of China) is With You Along the Way” in Relation to China’s Soft Power Project. tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique. Open Access Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society. 18 (1), pp. 286-303. https://doi.org/10.31269/triplec.v18i1.1087

PSM in Italy: Troubled RAI in a Troubled Country
D'Arma, A. 2019. PSM in Italy: Troubled RAI in a Troubled Country. in: Połońska, E. and Beckett, C. (ed.) Public Service Broadcasting and Media Systems in Troubled European Democracies Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 111-128

“From the “Going Out” Project to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): What Does the BRI Mean for State-owned National Media?”
Xin, X. 2018. “From the “Going Out” Project to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): What Does the BRI Mean for State-owned National Media?”. The ICA Preconference on the Belt and Road Initiative. Prague, Czech Republic 23 May 2018

Financialisation of News in China in the Age of the Internet: The Case of Xinhuanet
Xin, X. 2018. Financialisation of News in China in the Age of the Internet: The Case of Xinhuanet. 68th ICA Annual Conference. Prague, Czech Republic 24 - 28 May 2018

How Do Public Service Broadcasters Make a Case for Themselves? An Analysis of BBC’s ‘Charter Manifestos’
D'Arma, A. 2018. How Do Public Service Broadcasters Make a Case for Themselves? An Analysis of BBC’s ‘Charter Manifestos’. Journal of Information Policy. 8, pp. 199-226. https://doi.org/10.5325/jinfopoli.8.2018.0199

Popularizing Party Journalism in China in the Age of Social Media: The Case of Xinhua News Agency
Xin, X. 2018. Popularizing Party Journalism in China in the Age of Social Media: The Case of Xinhua News Agency. Global Media and China. 3 (1), pp. 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/2059436418768331

New Poles in Uncertain Times?
Xin, X. 2018. New Poles in Uncertain Times? in: Culture Report EUNIC Yearbook 2018, "Cultures of We": Europe and the Search for a New Narrative Göttingen, Germany Steidl Verlag. pp. 48-53

Financialisation of News in China in the Age of the Internet: The Case of Xinhuanet
Xin, X. 2018. Financialisation of News in China in the Age of the Internet: The Case of Xinhuanet. Media, Culture and Society. 40 (7), pp. 1039-1054. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443717745121

The Hollowing Out of Public Service Media: A Constructivist Institutionalist Analysis of the Commercialisation of BBC’s In-house Production
D'Arma, A. 2018. The Hollowing Out of Public Service Media: A Constructivist Institutionalist Analysis of the Commercialisation of BBC’s In-house Production. Media, Culture and Society. 40 (3), pp. 432-448. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443717713260

Italia: Políticas sobres Concentratión y Medios Públicos
D'Arma, A. 2017. Italia: Políticas sobres Concentratión y Medios Públicos. in: Fernández Alonso, I. (ed.) Austeridad y Clientelismo: Política Audiovisual en España en el Contexto Mediterráneo y de la Crisis Financiera Barcelona Gedisa Editorial. pp. 19-38

Making a difference? Public service broadcasting, distinctiveness and children’s provision in Italy and Spain
D'Arma, A. and Labio, A. 2017. Making a difference? Public service broadcasting, distinctiveness and children’s provision in Italy and Spain. International Journal of Digital Television. 8 (2), pp. 183-199. https://doi.org/10.1386/jdtv.8.2.183_1

Media and Politics in Contemporary Italy: From Berlusconi to Grillo
D'Arma, A. 2015. Media and Politics in Contemporary Italy: From Berlusconi to Grillo. Lanham/Boulder Lexington Books.

Challenges and confusion in media and communication regulation: a four country comparison
D'Arma, A., Nieminen, H., Padovani, C. and Sousa, H. 2015. Challenges and confusion in media and communication regulation: a four country comparison. in: Trappel, J., Steemers, J. and Thomass, B. (ed.) European media in crisis: values, risks and policies London Routledge. pp. 163-181

Public service media in Europe at times of crisis: some reflections
D'Arma, A. 2014. Public service media in Europe at times of crisis: some reflections. Public Value Report 2013/2014. pp. 64-66.

United Kingdom
D'Arma, A. 2013. United Kingdom. in: Sousa, H., Trutzschler, W., Fidalgo, J. and Lameiras, M. (ed.) Media regulators in europe: a cross-country comparative analysis International Association for Media and Communication Research. pp. 180-191

Children’s television: markets and regulation
D'Arma, A. and Steemers, J. 2013. Children’s television: markets and regulation. in: Donders, K., Pauwels, C. and Loisen, J. (ed.) Private television in Western Europe: content, markets, policies Palgrave Macmillan.

How the market is changing China's news: the case of Xinhua news agency
Xin, X. 2012. How the market is changing China's news: the case of Xinhua news agency. Lanham, US Lexington Books.

Evaluating and regulating the role of public broadcasters in the children’s media ecology: the case of home-grown television content
Steemers, J. and D'Arma, A. 2012. Evaluating and regulating the role of public broadcasters in the children’s media ecology: the case of home-grown television content. International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics. 8 (1), pp. 67-86. https://doi.org/10.1386/macp.8.1.67_1

Localisation strategies of US-owned children's television networks in five European markets
D'Arma, A. and Steemers, J. 2012. Localisation strategies of US-owned children's television networks in five European markets. Journal of Children and Media. 6 (2), pp. 147-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2011.587144

Web 2.0, grassroots journalism and social justice in China
Xin, X. 2011. Web 2.0, grassroots journalism and social justice in China. in: Meikle, G. and Redden, G. (ed.) News online: transformation and continuity New York Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 178-194

Global media, business and politics: a comparative analysis of News Corporation’s strategy in Italy and the UK
D'Arma, A. 2011. Global media, business and politics: a comparative analysis of News Corporation’s strategy in Italy and the UK. International Communication Gazette. 73 (8), pp. 670-684. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748048511420095

Content aggregation in the age of online video: an analysis of the impact of internet distribution on the television business
D'Arma, A. 2011. Content aggregation in the age of online video: an analysis of the impact of internet distribution on the television business. Journal of Media Business Studies. 8 (3), pp. 1-18.

Public diplomacy games: a comparative study of American and Japanese responses to the interplay of nationalism, ideology and Chinese soft power strategies around the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Xin, X. and Finlay, C.J. 2010. Public diplomacy games: a comparative study of American and Japanese responses to the interplay of nationalism, ideology and Chinese soft power strategies around the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics. 13 (5), pp. 876-900. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430431003651115

The impact of "citizen journalism" on Chinese media and society
Xin, X. 2010. The impact of "citizen journalism" on Chinese media and society. Journalism Practice. 4 (3), pp. 333-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512781003642931

Xinhua News Agency in the context of the 'crisis' of news agencies
Xin, X. 2010. Xinhua News Agency in the context of the 'crisis' of news agencies. in: Boyd-Barrett, O. (ed.) News agencies in the turbulent era of the Internet Barcelona Generalitat de Catalunya. pp. 283-303

Public service media and children: serving the digital citizens of the future
D'Arma, A. and Steemers, J. 2010. Public service media and children: serving the digital citizens of the future. in: Iosifides, P. (ed.) Reinventing public service communication: European broadcasters and beyond Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 114-127

Serving children in public service media
D'Arma, A., Enli, G. and Steemers, J. 2010. Serving children in public service media. in: Lowe, G.F. (ed.) The public in public service media Nordicom. pp. 227-242

Shaping tomorrow's television: digital television policies in Italy 1996-2006
D'Arma, A. 2010. Shaping tomorrow's television: digital television policies in Italy 1996-2006. in: Ardizzoni, M. and Ferrari, C. (ed.) Beyond monopoly: contemporary Italian media and globalization Lanham Lexington Books.

Policy interventions, funding and the crisis in advertising
D'Arma, A. and Steemers, J. 2010. Policy interventions, funding and the crisis in advertising. in: Steemers, J. (ed.) Creating preschool television: a story of commerce, creativity and curriculum Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 171-190

Italian television in the multichannel age: assessing change and continuity in industry structure, programming and consumption
D'Arma, A. 2010. Italian television in the multichannel age: assessing change and continuity in industry structure, programming and consumption. Convergence: the international journal of research into new media technologies. 16 (2), pp. 201-215. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354856509357685

Chindia’s challenge to global communication: a perspective from China
Xin, X. 2010. Chindia’s challenge to global communication: a perspective from China. Global Media and Communication. 6 (3), pp. 296-301. https://doi.org/10.1177/1742766510384968

Review of Ofcom policy investigation: "The future of children's television programming"
D'Arma, A. and Steemers, J. 2009. Review of Ofcom policy investigation: "The future of children's television programming". Cultural Trends. 18 (1), pp. 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/09548960802651278

Broadcasting policy in Italy’s 'Second Republic': national politics and European influences
D'Arma, A. 2009. Broadcasting policy in Italy’s 'Second Republic': national politics and European influences. Media, Culture & Society. 31 (5), pp. 769-786. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443709339464

Xinhua News Agency in Africa
Xin, X. 2009. Xinhua News Agency in Africa. Journal of African Media Studies. 1 (3), pp. 363-377. https://doi.org/10.1386/jams.1.3.363/1

Structural Change journalism practice: Xinhua News Agency in the early 2000s
Xin, X. 2008. Structural Change journalism practice: Xinhua News Agency in the early 2000s. Journalism Practice. 2 (1), pp. 46-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512780701768501

Research into Chinese media organisations. The case of Xinhua Shanghai bureau
Xin, X. 2008. Research into Chinese media organisations. The case of Xinhua Shanghai bureau. Javnost / The Public. 15 (1), pp. 39-56.

Children's television: the soft underbelly of public service broadcasting
D'Arma, A. and Steemers, J. 2008. Children's television: the soft underbelly of public service broadcasting. RIPE@2008 Conference: Public Service Media in the 21st Century: Participation, Partnership and Media Development. Mainz, Germany 08 - 11 Oct 2008

Broadcasting policy in Italy's 'second republic' 1994-2006
D'Arma, A. 2007. Broadcasting policy in Italy's 'second republic' 1994-2006. PhD thesis University of Westminster Faculty of Media, Arts and Design

Xinhua news agency and globalization: negotiating between the global, the local and the national
Xin, X. 2007. Xinhua news agency and globalization: negotiating between the global, the local and the national. in: Boyd-Barrett, O. (ed.) Communications media, globalization, and empire Eastleigh, UK John Libbey & Company. pp. 111-128

How to do fieldwork?
Xin, X. 2007. How to do fieldwork? in: Carpentier, N., Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt, P., Nordenstreng, K., Hartmann, M., Vihalemm, P., Cammaerts, B. and Nieminen, H. (ed.) Media technologies and democracy in an enlarged Europe Tartu University of Tartu Press. pp. 295-306

Le TV locali e la questione dell’accesso al tempo del digitale terrestre
D'Arma, A. 2007. Le TV locali e la questione dell’accesso al tempo del digitale terrestre. in: Barca, F. (ed.) Le televisioni invisibili: storia ed economia del settore televisivo locale in Italia Rome, Italy RAI Eri. pp. 121-138

Digital switchover in Italy: an analysis of government policy 1996-2006
D'Arma, A. 2007. Digital switchover in Italy: an analysis of government policy 1996-2006. 57th ICA Annual Conference ‘Creating Communication: Content, Control, Critique'. Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, CA 24 - 28 May 2007

Editorial
D'Arma, A. 2007. Editorial. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture. 4 (3), pp. 1-3. https://doi.org/10.16997/wpcc.92

Editorial for WPCC special issue Media in China
Xin, X. 2006. Editorial for WPCC special issue Media in China. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture. 3 (1), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.16997/wpcc.3

Media in China, Special Issue
Xin, X. (ed.) 2006. Media in China, Special Issue. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture. 3 (1).

A quarter century of creative chaos: Xinhua News Agency 1980-2005
Xin, X. 2006. A quarter century of creative chaos: Xinhua News Agency 1980-2005. PhD thesis University of Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design

A developing market in news: Xinhua News Agency and Chinese newspapers
Xin, X. 2006. A developing market in news: Xinhua News Agency and Chinese newspapers. Media, Culture & Society. 28 (1), pp. 45-66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443706059285

News probe: what does it tell us about Chinese journalism today?
de Burgh, H. and Xin, X. 2006. News probe: what does it tell us about Chinese journalism today? Medien Journal. 30 (2-3), pp. 52-66.

Le Televisioni Locali
D'Arma, A. 2005. Le Televisioni Locali. in: Rapporto sull'Economia della Cultura in Italia 1990-2000 il Mulino.

A Mapping Study of Media Concentration and Ownership in Ten European Countries
Ward, D., Fueg, O.C. and D'Arma, A. 2004. A Mapping Study of Media Concentration and Ownership in Ten European Countries. Hilversum, The Netherlands Commissariaat voor de Media.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/x61zy/geopolitical-constraints-on-china-s-soft-power-a-framing-analysis-of-the-belt-and-road-initiative-coverage-in-italian-news-media


Share this

Usage statistics

11 total views
10 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.