Constructing Indonesia's Diplomatic Identity in the BRICS Virtual Leaders Meeting
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Abstract
BRICS represents an alternative global power that challenges Western dominance by emphasizing multipolarity, namely cooperation among major states to create a more balanced world order that is not solely controlled by Western powers. This study analyzes President Prabowo Subianto’s participation in the BRICS Leaders Virtual Meeting on 8 September 2025, focusing on how Indonesia’s diplomatic identity is constructed through an official state address. Using Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and the constructivist perspective in International Relations (Wendt, 1992), the research examines the textual, discursive, and social dimensions of the speech. At the textual level, the findings highlight Indonesia’s image as a cooperative partner while simultaneously voicing implicit critiques of global hegemony. At the discursive level, the speech was produced by the Presidential Secretariat and disseminated through national and international media, thereby reinforcing Indonesia’s diplomatic image before both global and domestic audiences. At the social practice level, the discourse reflects support for multipolarity, resistance to double standards, and international solidarity. The study demonstrates that even a short multilateral statement by President Prabowo Subianto can serve as an important instrument for the construction of Indonesia’s identity and soft power. This research contributes novelty by extending the application of CDA to the sphere of international diplomacy.
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