Rhetorical Analysis in Public and Political Discourse

Rhetorical analysis in public and political discourse involves the systematic examination of how language, symbols and narratives are crafted to influence opinion, mobilise support and construct collective identities. This field bridges classical traditions of persuasion—ethos, pathos and logos—with contemporary methods drawn from discourse analysis, computational linguistics and media studies. Researchers explore how framing strategies, metaphorical language and storytelling shape debates on policy, justice and identity at local, national and global levels. Advances in digital humanities have enabled the quantitative mapping of argumentation patterns across social media and official speeches, while critical approaches interrogate power relations embedded in dominant discourses. By analysing genres such as epideictic addresses, protest graffiti and AI‐mediated communication, scholars reveal how rhetorical practices both reflect and contest structures of authority. The global significance of this work lies in its capacity to inform more inclusive dialogue, foster democratic deliberation and equip citizens with tools for critical engagement in an age of rapid information flows.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have applied interpretive discourse analysis to official policy texts, revealing how overarching “grand narratives” are constructed by international bodies to legitimise models of governance and education. This work demonstrates the methodological value of combining close textual reading with a discursive toolkit that uncovers tensions and unspoken assumptions in policy dilemmas. By destabilising dominant liberal narratives and reflecting on the limitations of discourse analysis, these contributions offer empirical insights and policy recommendations that enhance our understanding of how ideas and beliefs inform global decision-making practices.

Rhetorical Analysis in Public and Political Discourse publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in rhetorical analysis in public and political discourse across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Rhetorical analysis: The systematic study of how language and symbols are used to persuade or influence audiences.

Discourse analysis: An interdisciplinary approach to examine language in use, focusing on the social and power dimensions of communication.

Framing: The selection and emphasis of certain aspects of a topic to shape perception and interpretation.

Public sphere: The conceptual arena where individuals and groups engage in discussion to form public opinion and influence political action.

Epideictic rhetoric: A genre of speech or text that affirms shared values, identity and collective solidarity, often in ceremonial or commemorative contexts.

Political subjectivity: The sense of individual and collective political agency shaped by discourse, narratives and rhetorical practices.

References

1. Large language models, politics, and the functionalization of language. AI and Ethics (2024).
2. Slavery and Oratory: Frederick Douglass in the History of Rhetoric. American Political Science Review (2023).
3. Decolonizing the public sphere(s)?: A historical trajectory of justice-seeking subaltern public communication in the Middle East. Communication Theory (2025).
4. Interpreting public policy dilemmas: discourse analytical insights. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2020).
5. Black Lives Matter: The Emotional and Racial Dynamics of the George Floyd Protest Graffiti. Advances in Applied Sociology (2020).
6. Leaders’ Response to Terrorism: The Role of Epideictic Rhetoric in Deliberative Democracies. Journal of Deliberative Democracy (2015).