Power of Persuasion: Analysis of U.S. Presidents' and European Leaders’ Discourse

Subject Areas : Applied Linguistics

Rasha Mohammed Abd Aljabar Alkhlel ¹ , Atefesadat Mirsaeedi ^{2 *} , Muna Mohammed Abbas Alkhateeb ³ , Mehdi Vaez Dalili ⁴

1 - Department of English Languages, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Faculty of Foreign Languages, Khorasgan (Isfahan)
3 - Department of English, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University, Babylon, Iraq
4 - Department of English, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2024-06-30 Accepted : 2024-08-12 Published : 2024-09-17

Keywords: Persuasion, Political Discourse, Rhetoric, Aristotle’s Three Appeals, Elaboration Likelihood Model, Multilateralism, Public Speaking, Comparative Analysis,

Abstract :

The paper critically explores the persuasive strategies applied by U.S. Presidents and European leaders in their public speeches, with a focus on internal and external affairs. Through corpus-based discourse analysis of speeches delivered over the course of two decades, this study undertakes a close examination of convergence and divergence of the rhetorical styles, guided by a synthesized framework consisting of Aristotle's Three Appeals—ethos, pathos, logos—the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), and Fairclough's Three-Dimensional model. Its findings shed light on striking differences in how U.S. presidents and European leaders approach persuasion, reflecting cultural, political, and historical influences unique to each context. While U.S. presidents tend to focus on a balance of ethos, pathos, and logos in their speeches, leaders from Europe tend to focus more on consensus building and collective identity, guided by their commitment to multilateralism and institutional cooperation. This study has also brought to light the ways in which each of these groups have their rhetorical strategies moderated, influenced, or otherwise constrained by domestic pressures, international diplomacy, and historical legacies. The comparative approach gives insight into the role of political discourse in the formation of public opinion, policy guidance, and international relations management.

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