Ecological Civilization: A Blindspot in Global Media Coverage of China’s Environmental Governance

Abstract

China’s frenetic pace of economic development in recent decades has come with significant environmental costs. Confronted by this dire situation, the Chinese government has proposed the concept of ecological civilization as both an aspirational goal for sustainability and a guide to environmental policymaking. Despite this concept’s current centrality in China’s environmental discourse, little is known about how it is covered by media outlets outside China. In this article, we address this research gap by analyzing the framing of ecological civilization in English-language media outside China. Our qualitative discourse analysis reveals three major storylines that define the concept in conflicting ways: (1) ecological civilization as an environmental governance framework, (2) ecological civilization as a misleading propaganda ploy, and (3) ecological civilization as an eco-socialist blueprint. In light of these findings, we conclude by highlighting the potential of ecological civilization for advancing global conversations about transcending capitalism.

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