Interdiscursivity in the global South: tracing intra-BRICS communication flows within the Brazilian, Indian and South African media spheres

Abstract

ABSTRACT Several studies on the transnationalisation of public spheres have explored how interdependent relationships, particularly in the European Union context, foster the cross-national synchronisation of public discourse. However, there is a dearth of research on non-Western contexts. Thus, this study aims to examine the extent to which discursive interrelatedness (i.e., interdiscursivity) has been established in the global South within the BRICS framework. Specifically, the study focuses on three BRICS countries, namely Brazil, India and South Africa. A content analysis of discursive articles on international issues (n = 2,607) published by daily newspapers in these three countries between 2011 and 2019 was conducted. As expected, a significant focus on American issues and speakers was found in the sample. The findings suggest that South Africa (21.6%) monitors its BRICS partners more frequently than India (17.6%) and Brazil (11%). Chinese actors’ arguments and opinions are the most cited within the BRICS framework. Indian public discourse has the highest penetration of Chinese speakers (18.9%). Overall, BRICS interdiscursive synchrony is limited and segmented, being developed mainly around China and Russia.