The Instrumentalization of Fear in the Rhetorics of George W. Bush. A Linguistic Analysis

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The Instrumentalization of Fear in the Rhetorics of George W. Bush. A Linguistic Analysis

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O knihe

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject American Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,7, University of Heidelberg, language: English, abstract: Using the Terror Management Theory as a theoretical basis, this paper analyzes several presidential speeches by George W. Bush focusing on their instrumentalization of fear, depiction of out-groups and the usage of certain topic-related words in their context.

George Bush's presidency, and particularly his foreign policy, was strongly influenced by the attacks on the World Trade Center on September the 11th, 2001. Not only did the attacks strengthen American patriotism and create a strong awareness of and antipathy against the threat of religiously motivated terrorism, but they also changed the president's foreign policy and influenced his public image in an unpredictable way.

In the days and weeks that followed 9/11, he explained the events to the public in more detail, but also advertised and advocated his political response. Under his initiative, a military campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan was launched. This campaign was part of the war on terror, a vague term which Bush coined and which would dominate American foreign policy for over ten years from then on. Bush frequently used this strong term in his speeches to justify any kind of military action taken against a global threat.

He simplified the political matter of terrorism in his speeches by dividing the world clearly into good and evil, by ignoring Al Qaeda's motivation for the attack and any possibility for a diplomatic solution, and by describing the matter in a very emotional manner, often devoid of logical reasoning. Instead of clearly and fully explaining his political actions, Bush resorted to the use of simple and emotive appeals to Americans' sense of justice and patriotism, thereby presenting himself as a compassionate and righteous president.