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Abstract

China’s economic strategy in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, has shaped the region's infrastructure, trade, and connectivity. In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the key recipients of Chinese investments in Central Asia, perceptions of China’s presence are deeply influenced by historical and cultural narratives, along with media framing. While Chinese investments have delivered economic benefits, there is a mixed feeling about them, with some people viewing them as threats to economic sovereignty and cultural identity. Media in these countries play a critical role in shaping public opinion, often amplifying concerns about economic dependency and political imbalance.

This research examines how cultural narratives and media portrayals of Chinese investments intersect to influence public sentiment in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. By analyzing the framing of Chinese investments and local responses, the study provides insights into the role of cultural and media dynamics in shaping resistance or acceptance of China’s economic footprint.

The aim of this research is to investigate how cultural narratives and media framing shape public perceptions of China's economic engagement in Central Asia, with a particular focus on Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The specific objectives include the following:

Media analysis: To explore the framing of Chinese investments in Uzbek and Kazakh media, identifying themes of sovereignty, cultural identity, and economic dependency.

Cultural narratives: To analyze the historical and cultural dimensions that influence public sentiment toward China.

Resistance dynamics: To identify how these narratives contribute to grassroots acceptance or resistance to Chinese investments. The research is based on the original dataset that comes from the analysis of online news media content, survey and interview data from Tashkent and Almaty.