ALGORITHMIC GEOPOLITICS: AI-MEDIATED INFORMATION FLOWS AND NARRATIVE POWER IN SINO-US SOFT POWER COMPETITION
Keywords:
Algorithmic Geopolitics, Information flow, Soft Power, US and ChinaAbstract
This paper examines the impact of algorithmic systems on the competitive dynamics between the United States and China within the political sphere. This paper extends Joseph Nye's concept of soft power by demonstrating how nations can leverage AI-based platforms, content moderation tools, and data infrastructure to influence global narrative perceptions. This demonstrates that China is pursuing digital sovereignty by establishing government-monitored digital ecosystems, in contrast to the U.S., which depends on the innovation of the private sector and an open network, even as credibility has diminished, as evidenced by an analysis of narrative power and critical discourse. The article discusses the emerging "splinternet," the shortcomings in ethical regulations, and the resistance from nations and civil society organizations in the Global South. The findings indicate that narrative supremacy increasingly relies on both the story's content and the mediation of algorithms. The development of new theoretical and policy models is required to address the increasing competition and its destabilizing impacts on the global information system.