A Study on the Perception of China’s Image in Contemporary Georgian Mainstream Media
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E5/2026-01Keywords:
China’s image; Georgia; mainstream mediaAbstract
The concept of national image has gained increasing scholarly attention alongside China’s growing economic power and international influence. The construction and dissemination of a favorable national image play a crucial role in shaping a supportive external environment. In the context of deepening China–Georgia relations, particularly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, examining perceptions of China’s image in Georgian mainstream media is of both academic and practical significance.
This study adopts a mixed-method approach, combining content analysis, critical discourse analysis, and interviews to investigate representations of China in Georgian society. A corpus of China-related reports published between 2020 and 2025 by two major Georgian media outlets—Imedi TV and TV Pirveli—was constructed. Drawing on framing theory and appraisal theory, the study analyzes the construction of China’s image at both the macro level of narrative structures and the micro level of linguistic resources. In addition, it examines elite perceptions, particularly in the political and economic domains.
The findings indicate that, despite differences in political orientations, Georgian media demonstrate a shared pragmatic approach in their coverage of China, generally portraying it as an important development partner. Based on these findings, the study suggests several approaches to enhancing China’s international image, including strengthening domestic media narratives, promoting academic exchange, and improving communication with international audiences.
This research contributes to the understanding of China’s image in the Georgian context and provides practical insights for international communication strategies in a complex geopolitical environment.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Gvindzhiliya Liya (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
