INDIA’S BRICS CHAIRMANSHIP: LINGUISTIC MECHANISMS OF GEOPOLITICAL EVENT’S REPRESENTATION IN RUSSIAN MEDIA

Abstract

The article analyses the linguistic mechanisms used to represent India’s BRICS chairmanship. The chairmanship serves as an effective instrument of the state’s “soft power”, fulfilling functions such as shaping the international agenda, mediating diplomatic conflicts, building coalitions, and showcasing the country’s political, economic, and socio-cultural potential. While various types of chairmanship exist, the institution itself entails certain risks and limitations. The study draws on material published in leading Russian media outlets – Izvestia, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, TASS, RIA Novosti, and RBC – to analyse the representation of India’s BRICS chairmanship. A cognitive-discursive method is employed. Thematic analysis allows the relevant Russian media publications to be categorized into four groups: discussions of BRICS activities within the broader global context; the cultural-historical agenda; challenges of India’s BRICS chairmanship, and Russia’s international role as an active BRICS participant and India’s strategic partner. Key linguistic mechanisms identified in the Russian media coverage include precedent-setting symbols, metaphorical models, and lexical units conveying futurity and potential action. The article concludes by outlining prospects for future research, specifically comparing the representation mechanisms of India’s BRICS chairmanship preceding and following 2026 summit.