CONSTRUCTING IDENTITIES, JUSTIFYING ACTIONS: THE IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF THE TERRORISTS IN THE DISCOURSES OF GEORGE W. BUSH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5380/cg.v7i1.57557Abstract
This article analyzes the official discourses of US ex-President George W. Bush and discursive elements that enabled him to build an identity dichotomy, represented on the one hand, the ‘terrorists’ and, on the other side, by ‘American’, being able to justify their actions in the international arena, culminating with the military intervention in Iraq in March, 2003. Supported by the theoretical basis provided by the poststructuralist, specially the arguments provided by authors such as David Campbell and Lene Hansen, and based on the assertion that the discourse matter and is the own reality, this research argues about the importance of understanding the intersection between identity and foreign policy, reflected in the myths and symbols around issues such as terrorism, democracy and weapons of mass destruction. At the end, I conclude that, more than discourses, the elements raised by the former president were able to shape a particular perception of ‘terrorists’ and ‘Americans’, and thereby direct all US foreign policy issues in international security.
Keywords: Identity; Terrorists; Discourse; George W. Bush; United States.
References
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