Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the emerging contours of a new global order in which Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) can play a vital part. It focuses on the geo-political stage for the role of BRICS nations in framing a different kind of world order. The book argues that the currently-dominant framework developed by Hallin and Mancini, while providing the basis for some illuminating studies, suffers from many limitations: the existing typologies of media systems are not very applicable to the BRICS countries, as the underlying assumptions, approaches, reference points and analytical variables draw upon experience of a restricted geographical spread of media systems. It focuses on the impact of the turbulent political environment since 2013 on the media system and on how information is disseminated to and shared by the public, with increasing use of social media and the Internet.