Mediated Multipolarity: RT’s Discursive Construction of India before and after the RussiaUkraine Conflict

Anilesh Kumar; Daya Kishan Thussu

Mediated Multipolarity: RT’s Discursive Construction of India before and after the RussiaUkraine Conflict

Anilesh Kumar
, Daya Kishan Thussu

Department of Journalism

Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference paper › peer-review

Abstract

This article examines how RT (Russia Today), a state-funded international broadcaster, reframed its coverage of India before and after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Drawing on a longitudinal dataset of 635 English-language articles published between 2019 and 2024, the study combines topic modelling with discursive framing analysis to trace a shift in RT’s India-related narratives. In the pre-war period, India appeared sporadically and was framed through domestic or neutral reporting. After 2022, however, RT increasingly positioned India as a strategic partner aligned with Russia’s vision of a multipolar global order. Grounded in theories of media diplomacy and discursive geopolitics, the article introduces the concept of mediated multipolarity to describe the symbolic alignment fostered by state-aligned media across the Global South. The study contributes to broader debates on media’s role in international politics and the evolving function of state-aligned media in the context of war and conflict.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 6 Jun 2026
Event	76th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2026: Communication and Inequalities in Context - Cape Town, South Africa Duration: 4 Jun 2026 → 8 Jun 2026 https://www.icahdq.org/mpage/ICA26-program (Link to conference website)

Conference

Conference	76th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2026
Country/Territory	South Africa
City	Cape Town
Period	4/06/26 → 8/06/26
Internet address	https://www.icahdq.org/mpage/ICA26-program (Link to conference website)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

User-Defined Keywords

Media diplomacy
Discursive geopolitics
Mediated multipolarity
RT (Russia Today) India-Russia
Russia-Ukraine
War and communication

Cite this

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title = "Mediated Multipolarity: RT{\textquoteright}s Discursive Construction of India before and after the RussiaUkraine Conflict",

abstract = "This article examines how RT (Russia Today), a state-funded international broadcaster, reframed its coverage of India before and after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Drawing on a longitudinal dataset of 635 English-language articles published between 2019 and 2024, the study combines topic modelling with discursive framing analysis to trace a shift in RT{\textquoteright}s India-related narratives. In the pre-war period, India appeared sporadically and was framed through domestic or neutral reporting. After 2022, however, RT increasingly positioned India as a strategic partner aligned with Russia{\textquoteright}s vision of a multipolar global order. Grounded in theories of media diplomacy and discursive geopolitics, the article introduces the concept of mediated multipolarity to describe the symbolic alignment fostered by state-aligned media across the Global South. The study contributes to broader debates on media{\textquoteright}s role in international politics and the evolving function of state-aligned media in the context of war and conflict.",

keywords = "Media diplomacy, Discursive geopolitics, Mediated multipolarity, RT (Russia Today) India-Russia, Russia-Ukraine, War and communication",

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year = "2026",

month = jun,

day = "6",

language = "English",

note = "76th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2026 : Communication and Inequalities in Context ; Conference date: 04-06-2026 Through 08-06-2026",

url = "https://www.icahdq.org/mpage/ICA26-program",

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T1 - Mediated Multipolarity

T2 - 76th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2026

AU - Kumar, Anilesh

AU - Thussu, Daya Kishan

PY - 2026/6/6

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N2 - This article examines how RT (Russia Today), a state-funded international broadcaster, reframed its coverage of India before and after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Drawing on a longitudinal dataset of 635 English-language articles published between 2019 and 2024, the study combines topic modelling with discursive framing analysis to trace a shift in RT’s India-related narratives. In the pre-war period, India appeared sporadically and was framed through domestic or neutral reporting. After 2022, however, RT increasingly positioned India as a strategic partner aligned with Russia’s vision of a multipolar global order. Grounded in theories of media diplomacy and discursive geopolitics, the article introduces the concept of mediated multipolarity to describe the symbolic alignment fostered by state-aligned media across the Global South. The study contributes to broader debates on media’s role in international politics and the evolving function of state-aligned media in the context of war and conflict.

AB - This article examines how RT (Russia Today), a state-funded international broadcaster, reframed its coverage of India before and after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Drawing on a longitudinal dataset of 635 English-language articles published between 2019 and 2024, the study combines topic modelling with discursive framing analysis to trace a shift in RT’s India-related narratives. In the pre-war period, India appeared sporadically and was framed through domestic or neutral reporting. After 2022, however, RT increasingly positioned India as a strategic partner aligned with Russia’s vision of a multipolar global order. Grounded in theories of media diplomacy and discursive geopolitics, the article introduces the concept of mediated multipolarity to describe the symbolic alignment fostered by state-aligned media across the Global South. The study contributes to broader debates on media’s role in international politics and the evolving function of state-aligned media in the context of war and conflict.

KW - Media diplomacy

KW - Discursive geopolitics

KW - Mediated multipolarity

KW - RT (Russia Today) India-Russia

KW - Russia-Ukraine

KW - War and communication

M3 - Conference paper

Y2 - 4 June 2026 through 8 June 2026

ER -

Mediated Multipolarity: RT’s Discursive Construction of India before and after the RussiaUkraine Conflict

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

User-Defined Keywords

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Cite this