The Belt And Road Initiative From The Perspective Of European Think Tanks

The thesis employs text analysis to explore the sentiment and agenda-setting of leading European think tanks concerning the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).It analyzes the views and positions of European public decision-making and opinion in the context of the Revolving Door mechanism.It also observes how the competitive initiatives of the EU,the US,and the UK towards China have resulted in a strategic shift in the EU’s classification of China from "Cooperative and Negotiating Partners" to "Economic Competitors" and"Institutional Challenges" in the post-pandemic era.This shift in strategy suggests that the BRI’s expansion into Europe faces unprecedented risks and challenges.The study’s objective is to supplement the research on the BRI in Europe with more diverse and innovative findings,as well as to provide policy recommendations and data support for the construction of overseas discourse systems and the enhancement of the public opinion atmosphere concerning the BRI.Between 2013 and September 2022,the study analyzed 13539 texts related to the BRI from official websites of 233 European think tanks.It also utilized Natural Language Processing(NLP)techniques,including data preprocessing,sentiment analysis,and topic modeling,to examine the agenda-setting and topic evolution of European think tanks.The study reveals that European think tanks have a generally neutral-to-slightlypositive attitude towards the BRI,but there are significant regional and national differences.Central and Eastern European think tanks tend to be more positive,while Northern European and Baltic countries’ think tanks are more negative.Western and Southern European think tanks tend to be more neutral.The study also shows that the "Joint Development" narrative,supported by economic factors,represents mainstream public opinion in Europe regarding the BRI.In terms of agenda-setting,the BRI has maintained a positive image in the European public opinion sphere since the launch,and it has shown a clear upward trend in major events such as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.However,the COVID-19 pandemic has become a turning point for negative sentiment in European think tanks.Although China provided timely assistance to Europe in terms of anti-pandemic materials,Europe’s overall sentiment towards China remains negative.The risks and challenges of the BRI’s expansion into Europe are unprecedented,and further research in the field is necessary to supplement and enrich our understanding of the BRI’s development trajectory and optimal path in Europe.With the continuous advancement of the BRI,it is crucial to proactively create an effective and targeted overseas discourse atmosphere.This study proposes the following policy suggestions:Firstly,accelerate the design and deployment of a "bottom-up"communication strategy to enhance the visibility and influence of Chinese think tanks in the European public discourse system.Secondly,establish a European think tank viewpoint alert mechanism to grasp the public opinion trends of the BRI in the post-pandemic era.Thirdly,utilize economic and trade issues to guide European think tanks to conduct rational discussions based on common interests.