Introduction

The first decades of the 21st century have witnessed significant global realignments, reshaping the international landscape. As the concept of universal values takes centre stage in the era of globalization, culture has resurfaced as a crucial factor in international relations, highlighting the plurality of perspectives on order, peace and stability reflected in different narratives. The rise of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter China) as an economic superpower and the internal political tumult in the US and the EU have added complexities to the global development trajectory. This chapter studies narratives about the EU and China's bilateral relations with a small European, non-EU, former socialist country, the Republic of Serbia (Serbia), during these times of global shifts. As outlined in the Introduction to this volume, there are competing stories offering different perspectives on the past and present and – crucially – on what should be done in the future. This research explores different approaches to narratives and culture vis-à-vis international relations. It seeks to identify the value of these approaches in the present geopolitical situation. The study focuses on formative events and processes on the borders of Europe, such as the enlargement of the EU, China's global infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to understand the different accounts of global order and cultural diversity revealed in narratives about EU-Serbian and Sino-Serbian relations. Considering the noted global realignment, the research question asks what kind of approach to narratives is more likely to foster sustainable and peaceful future international relations.