Sectarian Rhetoric in Contemporary Political Discourse: A Critical Pragmatic Approach Using van Dijk’s Ideological Square
Saeed Mahdi Abdulraheem Al-Azzawi
1
(
Department of English Language, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
)
Ehsan Rezvani
2
(
Department of English Language, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
)
Basim Jubair Kadhim Al-Jameel
3
(
Open Educational College, Najaf Center, Ministry of Education, Iraq, Najaf.
)
Bahram Hadian
4
(
Department of English Language, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
)
الکلمات المفتاحية: Sectarian Rhetoric, Critical Discourse Analysis, Political Communication, Ideological Square, Pragmatics,
ملخص المقالة :
This study investigates the manifestations and impacts of sectarian rhetoric in contemporary political discourse through a critical pragmatic lens, employing Van Dijk's Ideological Square framework. Drawing on a corpus of 150 political texts, including speeches, campaign materials, and social media posts, the study adopts a mixed-methods approach to analyze the linguistic strategies employed by diverse political factions. Key findings reveal distinct rhetorical patterns: conservative factions predominantly utilize fear-based and exclusionary narratives, emphasizing negative out-group representation (85%), while liberal factions focus on inclusivity, promoting positive in-group representation (70%). Quantitative analyses highlight a strong correlation between sectarian rhetoric and societal polarization (R = 0.82, p < 0.01) as well as diminished institutional trust (R = -0.65, p < 0.01). These results underscore the role of sectarian rhetoric in fostering ideological divides, eroding public trust, and shaping political identities. The implications are far-reaching, offering theoretical advancements in understanding the interplay between political language and societal cohesion. Practically, the study calls for policymakers to adopt more inclusive communication strategies, educators to enhance media literacy programs, and media organizations to counteract divisive narratives. It also highlights the ethical dilemmas posed by AI-driven amplification of sectarian rhetoric on digital platforms, urging further exploration of technology’s role in political communication. By bridging gaps in the literature, particularly regarding the intersection of technology, rhetoric, and societal impacts, this research contributes to ongoing efforts to mitigate polarization and promote democratic dialogue.
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