Projects

Image of the Belt and Road Initiative in Slovak media (ViewBRI)

Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, it has been promoted as a platform for international cooperation among countries not only situated along the historical Silk Road corridor but also in its broader vicinity. In this context, new trade routes to and from China have been developed with the aim of fostering mutual economic growth and strengthening ties between China and European countries.

Slovakia was among the first European countries to signal its interest in the BRI by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with China in 2015, thereby expressing its interest in enhancing cooperation with China under the initiative’s framework, the present study investigates the representation of the BRI in Slovak media, focusing on three leading periodicals: Pravda, SME, and Denník N.

In light of China’s growing influence in Europe, the initially positive reception of BRI-related activities has, in some cases, shifted towards a more cautious and critical stance. Within this evolving political and economic landscape, the ViewBRI project conducts a systematic analysis of articles published in the selected Slovak media outlets between 2013 and 2023 to provide both qualitative and quantitative insights into the portrayal of the BRI within the Slovak media landscape, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of European perceptions of China’s global engagement based on its perception in Slovakia.

Funded by the EU NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia under the project No. 09I03-03-V04-00128