A Call to Arms at the End of History: A Discourse–Historical Analysis of George W. Bush’s Declaration of War on Terror
Philip W. Graham|Thomas Keenan|Anne-Maree Dowd
In this article we take a discourse–historical approach to illustrate the significance of George W. Bush’s (2001) declaration ‘war on terror’. We present four exemplary ‘call arms’ speeches by Pope Urban II (1095), Queen Elizabeth I (1588), Adolf Hitler (1938) and Bush exemplify structure, function, historical such texts in western societies over last millennium. identify generic features that have endured throughout period: (i) an appeal legitimate power source is external orator, which presented as inherently good; (ii) importance culture discourse situated; (iii) construction thoroughly evil Other; (iv) for unification behind legitimating source. argue further typically appear contexts characterized deep crises political legitimacy.
Discourse & Society|QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology)