Cultural Security in the Official Discourse of BRICS

Initially economically oriented, the BRICS group is gradually integrating cultural interaction into its agenda. Currently, researchers note the insufficient institutionalization and conceptualization of this area, pointing to its fragmented nature. An examination of official documents reveals an emerging concept of cultural security, interpreted as a multifaceted definition related to the protection of cultural heritage and cultural identity. A content analysis of declarations and agreements demonstrates that the key structural elements of cultural security within BRICS include combating the illegal trafficking of cultural property and the protection and safeguarding of heritage sites. Political rhetoric is evolving from an emphasis on civilizational differences to historical memory and justice, which may indicate an emerging securitization of the cultural agenda, where disinformation and hate speech are identified with external threats.