Discourse, Media, and Conflict
Examining War and Resolution in the News

This book applies approaches in linguistics to analyse the role of news media in conflict and peace processes.

Innocent Chiluwa (Edited by)

9781316513408, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 April 2022

320 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.3 cm, 0.69 kg

Bringing together contributions from a team of international scholars, this pioneering book applies theories and approaches from linguistics, such as discourse analysis and pragmatics, to analyse the media and online political discourses of both conflict and peace processes. By analysing case studies as globally diverse as Germany, the USA, Nigeria, Iraq, Korea and Libya, and across a range of genres such as TV news channels, online reporting and traditional newspapers, the chapters collectively show how news discourse can be powerful in mobilizing public support for war or violence, or for conflict resolution, through the linguistic representation of certain groups. It explores the consequences of this 'framing' effect, and shows how peace journalism can be achieved through a non-violent approach to reporting conflict. It will therefore serve as an essential resource for students, scholars and experts in media and communication studies, conflict and peace studies, international relations, linguistics and political science.

Preface Ramsbotham Oliver
Introduction: Media, conflict and peace-building Innocent Chiluwa
1. Elian Gonzalez in New York times: Media roles in the trajectories of international conflict Mark Finney and Sarah Fisher
2. The construction of threat of 'Islamist terrorism' in German newspapers Enis Bicer, Lina Brink, Alejandra Nieves Camacho
3. 'Herdsmen are terrorists': Analysing news headlines on the herder-farmer conflict in the Nigerian press Innocent Chiluwa, Isioma M. Chiluwa, Angie O. Igbinoba
4. Covering the war on Iraq: The pragmatics of framing and visual rhetoric in newspaper war photographs Ahmed Sahlane
5. Making a case for war: CNN and the representations of humanitarianism, Gadhafi and NATO in the 2011 bombing of Libya Ada Peter, Innocent Chiluwa
6. 'The situation on the Korean Peninsula': Voice of America and China radio international on China and the USA about the North Korean Conflict Valerie A. Cooper
7. Against a hard-earned peace: (De)legitimation discourses of political violence in online press statements of dissident Republicans in post conflict Northern Ireland Stephen Golding
8. Ideological exclusion: Defining the (dis)believer in online extremist Muslim periodical – Dabiq and Inspire Troy E. Spier
9. Violence for social change: An analysis of #feesmustfall movement in South Africa Fiona Chawana, Ufuoma Akpojivi
10. The language of peace in conflict transformation: A critical analysis of The New York Times' coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and its role in the discursive context of the Oslo negotiations Giuliana Tiripelli
11. The historical context in media narratives in search of peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict: A comparative study of BBC and Aljazeera Jelena Timotijevic
12. From peace talks to military operation: Pakistani newspapers' representation of the TTP conflict Lubna Shaheen, Muhammad Tarique
13. From collision to diplomatic compromise: 'We are sorry' – one official utterance, different interpretations in the Chinese and US mainstream news coverage of the 2001 mid-air plane collision Lutgard Lams
14. Constructing identities in crisis situations: A study of the 'volunteer' in the Spanish and English press María del Mar Sánchez Ramos
Conclusion Innocent Chiluwa.

Subject Areas: Arbitration, mediation & alternative dispute resolution [LNAC5], Media, information & communication industries [KNT], International relations [JPS], Media studies [JFD], Peace studies & conflict resolution [GTJ], Linguistics [CF]