Political Discourse Analysis
Legitimisation Strategies in Crisis and Conflict
Will be published approx. on 31. December 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-3995-2319-6 (ISBN)
Description
Political Discourse Analysis addresses the challenges facing political actors at all levels of society and across a range of regimes. It shows how discursive legitimisation strategies can vary on a continuum ranging from the stabilising effects of institutional discourse and the management of destabilising factors inherent in new types of media to the destabilising potential of rhetorical devices and deliberate de-legitimisation strategies used to attack opponents.
The diverse approaches show how political actors strive to maintain control in the context of democratic deficit and crisis in developed societies while addressing growing global threats to stability in all regimes. While many actors seek legitimisation through the institutional structure, media or rhetoric, others may seek to weaken any opposition to them through de-legitimisation. In this collection Butler provides the reader with replicable methods that can be adapted to political contexts.
The diverse approaches show how political actors strive to maintain control in the context of democratic deficit and crisis in developed societies while addressing growing global threats to stability in all regimes. While many actors seek legitimisation through the institutional structure, media or rhetoric, others may seek to weaken any opposition to them through de-legitimisation. In this collection Butler provides the reader with replicable methods that can be adapted to political contexts.
Reviews / Votes
An insightful contribution to political discourse analysis, addressing the timely topic of legitimization strategies in the context of crisis and conflict. This book covers an impressive array of discursive genres, modes, and cultures, and include discourses from African, Asian, European and American politicians, environmental activists, and other social actors. Essential reading not only for political discourse scholars, but also for researchers interested in critical discourse analysis. -- Laura Hidalgo-Downing, Autonomous University of Madrid Political Discourse Analysis: Legitimisation Strategies in Crisis and Conflict is a much needed work. It is an influential book which cleverly analyses a key discursive strategy used by politicians in the current social and political climate. Its nine chapters provide an original, critical insight into the communicative aspects of today's political discourse. -- Massimiliano Demata, University of TorinoMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Illustrations
11 black and white illustrations, 11 black and white tables
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
352 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3995-2319-6 (9781399523196)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Robert Butler is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Languages at the University of Lorraine, Nancy. His research interests include discourse, cognition and multimodality, primarily in the political sphere.
Content
Acknowledgements
List of Figures
List of Tables
Notes on Contributors
Preface
Introduction: Legitimisation strategies for a de-legitimised political world, Robert Butler
PART I: The role of legitimisation in institutional contexts
1. Education and political socialisation in contemporary China: From institutional discourse to teaching materials, Chiara Bertulessi
2. Smoothing processes in United Nations discourse on violence against women: A diachronic perspective, Celia Atzeni
3. Who calls whom a populist? A pragmatic analysis of the uses of populism(s) and populist(s) in French and Spanish parliamentary debates, Nadezda Shchinova
4. The Brexit Saga: Stancetaking, Control and Identity in Political Discourse, Juana I. Marin-Arrese
PART II: Legitimisation and new media
5. Political discourse and the new media: New architectures of communication, Mariya Chankova
6. Meaning-making in Trump's anti-Biden political campaign commercials: Multimodal perspective, Tetiana Krysanova
PART III: Legitimisation strategies and conceptualisation
7. A critical analysis of figurative language in the political discourse of conflict in Africa, Issa Kante
8. The Card Metaphor 'Play the X Card' as a Social Practice and its Pragmatic Functions, Yuuki Tomoshige
9. Metaphors and political arguments in environmental debates: 'Our house is still on fire', Anais Auge
Concluding remarks: Towards Legitimisation Studies in contemporary crises, Robert Butler and Anais Auge
List of Figures
List of Tables
Notes on Contributors
Preface
Introduction: Legitimisation strategies for a de-legitimised political world, Robert Butler
PART I: The role of legitimisation in institutional contexts
1. Education and political socialisation in contemporary China: From institutional discourse to teaching materials, Chiara Bertulessi
2. Smoothing processes in United Nations discourse on violence against women: A diachronic perspective, Celia Atzeni
3. Who calls whom a populist? A pragmatic analysis of the uses of populism(s) and populist(s) in French and Spanish parliamentary debates, Nadezda Shchinova
4. The Brexit Saga: Stancetaking, Control and Identity in Political Discourse, Juana I. Marin-Arrese
PART II: Legitimisation and new media
5. Political discourse and the new media: New architectures of communication, Mariya Chankova
6. Meaning-making in Trump's anti-Biden political campaign commercials: Multimodal perspective, Tetiana Krysanova
PART III: Legitimisation strategies and conceptualisation
7. A critical analysis of figurative language in the political discourse of conflict in Africa, Issa Kante
8. The Card Metaphor 'Play the X Card' as a Social Practice and its Pragmatic Functions, Yuuki Tomoshige
9. Metaphors and political arguments in environmental debates: 'Our house is still on fire', Anais Auge
Concluding remarks: Towards Legitimisation Studies in contemporary crises, Robert Butler and Anais Auge