Western images of China : media representations of Chinese attempts to invest in Saab

Abstract: The aim of this thesis is to describe Western images of China by focusing on media representations of Chinese attempts to invest in Saab. Theories of media representation, orientalism, racialization and stereotype are applied and used in the qualitative discourse analysis in order to find out if there are orientalist and racialized stereotypes in the material. The findings show that there are orientalist stereotypes and racialized stereotypes presented in the material. The analysis also sums up that China is a country whose people are represented to be adaptable and to have amazing productivity, since China has cheap labor power and lax labor law. Furthermore, China is represented as a country whose financial power is strong and solid, Western media characterizes China as a threat. Moreover, Chinese negotiators who went to Sweden to negotiate not only are represented as full of ambitions, but also they are seen as the saviors for Western companies which are on the verge of bankrupt. This thesis contributes to the literature by filling the gap about the Chinese attempts to invest in Saab, which is characterized by Western media.