NARRATIVES TRAVELING FROM THE LOCAL TO THE GLOBAL

Scholars have proposed three links between media and migration, based on three types of media: global media, host-country media, and media produced by migrant groups or transmitted from the country of origin (King and Wood 2001). Instead of simply focusing on the three different sites where competing discourses on migrants are produced, this chapter undertakes to highlight the dynamic relationship between, and the mutual constitution of, media representation strategies on migrants on different scales. However, I do not limit the discussion to media representation choices: I attempt to connect them with the policies and the relevant interests at stake. Moreover, I offer a new concept to the strategic narrative field as theorized by Miskimmon et al. (2013) and Roselle et al. (2014). These scholars focus their analytical attention on how political actors seek to shape order through narrative projection. They theorize strategic narrative as a new means of understanding soft power. While the main focus of the strategic narrative theory is international relations, their conceptualization also takes into account dynamics unfolding on the local scale and their interactions with the state’s strategic narratives. These authors argue that a compelling narrative can be a power resource as people may be drawn to certain explanations that describe the specifics of a policy (Roselle et al., 2014, 74). In this way, others can be influenced in a strategic sense. Furthermore, these authors distinguish between different types of strategic narratives. First are International System Narratives that describe how the world is structured, who the players are, and how it works. Identity Narratives are about “the character of nations and their people, with their distinctive values”. Finally, Issue Narratives “set out why a policy is needed and (normatively) desirable and how it will be successfully implemented”. I will use these concepts, when pertinent, and explain the factors that contribute to transforming a locally devised policy on the Chinese migrants and the relevant narratives into the dominant narratives at the national and global scales. Roselle et al. (2014) also argue that narratives employed on one geographic scale may affect narratives on other scales and thus constrain future policy choices and behaviours. My paper takes this concept one step further by offering the “travelling strategic narrative” concept according to which narratives, like policies, may and indeed do travel from one scale to another when they resonate with compatible concerns and approaches. It shows why and how a narrative of the Italian fashion industry as being under attack from China and its migrants easily travels from the local to the national and international scales. I hope to make a contribution to the strategic narrative field by exploring it in an empirical case.