Constructing Solidarity in the Global South: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Indonesia–Brazil Diplomatic Narratives

Abstract

This study examines the hybrid form of symbolic diplomacy between Indonesia and Brazil within the broader rise of the Global South in a multipolar international order. A qualitative approach is employed by integrating Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), framing theory, and the concept of symbolic hegemony to analyze the Indonesian President’s diplomatic speech in Brazil in 2025 and its subsequent representation in national media. The findings reveal that Indonesia–Brazil diplomacy operates through three main layers: (1) the construction of Global South solidarity through moral metaphors and collective identity lexicon; (2) the reinforcement of military nationalism via domestic media framing; and (3) a strategy of double addressing that simultaneously targets international and domestic audiences. This symbolic diplomacy combines soft power, hard power, and symbolic power to build political legitimacy across multiple audiences. Theoretically, the study proposes a discourse-based model of hybrid diplomacy; practically, it offers insights for foreign-policy designers seeking to optimize cultural and digital diplomacy in the Global South.