Abstract: As China's status as a global power strengthens, Western countries have adopted and continue to adopt multiple measures aimed at containing the growth of China's influence in the region and the world. These conditions require China to continually improve its foreign policy strategies. Thus, the establishment of think tanks has become one of the key tools operated by China's public diplomacy in the 21st century. The object of this study is the public diplomacy of contemporary China, while the subject of the research is Chinese think tanks. The author pays special attention to the significance of these centers in the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative, as well as their role in combating the stigmatization of China in the world during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this research is to analyze the role that think tanks play in the implementation of contemporary China's "soft power." To achieve this aim, descriptive and analytical methods were used. The main conclusions drawn by the author are as follows: the state significance of think tanks in China has been gradually increasing since the 2010s, and this trend not only continues but also strengthens in the 2020s. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the task of shaping and regulating the country's international image has gained particular importance for China. Think tanks today are a key link in the process of implementing this complex task. Their activities also contribute to ensuring more coordinated regional cooperation with China's partner countries. The scientific novelty of this study lies in exploring the unique research and propaganda roles of Chinese think tanks in the 2010s and 2020s, as well as proposing a hypothesis about the future of these centers within China.

Keywords: stigma, pandemic, politics, COVID-19, think tanks, foreign policy, public diplomacy, USA, international relations, China

Abstract: The subject of the study is the evolution of protectionist policy, including key stages and trends in historical and analytical contexts. Protectionism is one of the key tools used by governments to control and protect the national economy. It is applied both to ensure economic security and to support key industries. The historical-political analysis of the concept of protectionism is particularly relevant after the emergence of asymmetric security threats caused by international factors, which led to the return of protectionist practices after decades of globalization, economic liberalization, and trade policy implementation. During the formation of the foreign trade strategy based on protectionist principles, mercantilism served as the theoretical foundation. Accordingly, the aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of key historical stages and trends in the formation and development of the concept of protectionism. The research is based on the comprehensive application of various scientific methods, such as logical, comparative, structural analysis, synthesis, and historical analysis. A key methodological principle is the integration of theoretical and practical aspects, which determines the direction and content of the analytical work. To achieve the research objective, the main methodological approaches have been applied, including the dialectical method, retrospective analysis, and systemic analysis. The analysis of the evolution of mercantilist ideas allows for the conclusion that there has been a shift in protectionist policy from the use of monetary tools to those that stimulate domestic production and exports. Protectionism is actively applied in conditions of economic instability. However, the transition to trade liberalization occurs when the economic situation stabilizes and the level of development increases. At the same time, free trade may be accompanied by the use of hidden forms of protectionism. Despite forecasts from some experts that protectionist policies would gradually lose relevance in the context of globalization, it has not only persisted but has also successfully integrated into the new economic reality. The article proposes an author's definition of the concept of "protectionism," based on the results of a retrospective analysis of protectionism as a policy consisting of a set of tools aimed at supporting the economy of the state.

Keywords: restrictions, tariffs, nationalism, national industry, economic security, international trade, state economic policy, trade liberalization, protectionism, mercantilism