Although public diplomacy and its influence on foreign public opinion have been central themes in recent research, the latter often lacks methodological diversity and does not consider how states create competing images. Our study offers a framework for understanding Italian public opinion using a triangulation approach that combines traditional public opinion surveys with advanced text analysis of social media content. We compare the representation of China and the United States in the Italian Twitter community during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis shows that Italians who perceived China as a viable alternative to Western governments in public opinion surveys did so because they distrusted Western leaders and institutions.

Maracchione, F., Sciorati, G., Combei, C.r. (2024). Changing Images? Italian Twitter Discourse on China and the United States during the First Wave of COVID-19. THE INTERNATIONAL SPECTATOR, 59(2), 77-94 [10.1080/03932729.2023.2299452].

Changing Images? Italian Twitter Discourse on China and the United States during the First Wave of COVID-19

Claudia Roberta Combei
2024-01-01

Abstract

Although public diplomacy and its influence on foreign public opinion have been central themes in recent research, the latter often lacks methodological diversity and does not consider how states create competing images. Our study offers a framework for understanding Italian public opinion using a triangulation approach that combines traditional public opinion surveys with advanced text analysis of social media content. We compare the representation of China and the United States in the Italian Twitter community during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis shows that Italians who perceived China as a viable alternative to Western governments in public opinion surveys did so because they distrusted Western leaders and institutions.
2024
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore L-LIN/01
Settore SPS/04
Settore SPS/08
Settore GLOT-01/A - Glottologia e linguistica
Settore GSPS-02/A - Scienza politica
Settore GSPS-06/A - Sociologia dei processi culturali e comunicativi
English
COVID-19
China
United States
public opinion
topic models
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/03932729.2023.2299452
Maracchione, F., Sciorati, G., Combei, C.r. (2024). Changing Images? Italian Twitter Discourse on China and the United States during the First Wave of COVID-19. THE INTERNATIONAL SPECTATOR, 59(2), 77-94 [10.1080/03932729.2023.2299452].
Maracchione, F; Sciorati, G; Combei, Cr
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/410830
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