Research On The Stigmatization Of The Belt And Road Initiative In The United States

Since One belt One Road Initiative(BRI)was put forward,its international influence has continued to expand,but at the same time it has also faced suspicion and stigmatization from the international community.Among them,the US factor plays a key role.After Trump came to power,the United States intends to reconstruct its perception toward China.The negative perception of BRI in the US strategic circles has continued to deepen and it has been regarded as a key area of strategic competition between the two countries.Some studies mainly focus on the negative comment on BRI,some scholars analyze the reasons for the stigmatization of BRI from the perspective of hegemonic identification and some scholars discuss how to resolve the “BRI threat” from the perspective of international agenda setting.However,there are few studies focusing on BRI from the perspective of stigmatization.Based on this,this article intends to analyze the process and effectiveness of stigmatization from the United States targeting on BRI,paying attention to whether the process of stigmatization has contributed to the condensation of stigma,and analyzing the reasons for the condensation of stigma.Stigmatization is discourse frame,which is intended to conduct cognitive reconstruction toward targeted country with insulting and derogatory allegations in the international arena.The stigmatization process can be divided into prestigmatization at the stigma formation stage and post-stigmatization at the stigma application stage.The difference lies in whether the stigma is condensed.The condensed stigma means that this discourse framework has been widely responded,supported and recognized by other countries in the international community,and continues playing a role.If the stigma is not condensed,it shows that this discourse framework is difficult to mobilize other countries.This article believes that whether the stigma is condensed or not is related to the international community's identification of the stigmatized country and whether the stigma touches its own interests.In addition,the timely and effective response of the targeted country also played an important role in preventing the formation of stigma.The BRI provides a broad platform for international development cooperation and has achieved fruitful results.However,the United States has always had doubts about BRI and paid close attention to its implementation.In this process,US government officials,scholars,think tanks,and media have issued a series of negative comments on BRI,taking the lead in stigmatizing the motivation and norms of the BRI.In this process,the stigmatization of motives has not been recognized by the international community,while the stigmatization of the norms has been agreed to some extent.This shows that BRI conforms to the international community's recognition of China's identity.The United States intention of conducting cognitive reconstruction toward China's identity has little effect.While regarding normative issues,involving countries have an incentive to urge China to change because it touches the vital interests of participating countries.Take the “debt trap” diplomacy as an example to analyze the producing process and effectiveness of stigmatization,as well as China's corresponding countermeasures.Then provide useful inspiration for our country to effectively deal with the stigmatization of BRI by the United States.