La connettività come discorso: narrazioni russe e cinesi in Asia centrale

In recent decades, Central Asia has emerged as a strategic arena where China and Russia exert considerable influence through divergent approaches. While existing scholarship has predominantly focused on economic and security dimensions, the role of immaterial power—particularly the construction of strategic narratives and the use of soft power—remains underexplored. Yet, these elements are crucial to understanding how external powers seek to consolidate their legitimacy in the region. China, through its Belt and Road Initiative, positions itself as a natural partner and architect of a new economic order; Russia draws upon shared history from Soviet times and enduring pragmatic interests to sustain its influence. Both actors, however, face challenges in securing the trust of local populations. This study investigates how strategic narratives centred on infrastructure serve as critical instruments for legitimising external engagement. By employing frame analysis, it examines official political discourse and the symbolic use of immaterial power.