Rudiments of Political Power: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Hamas Political Leader’s Speech

Abstract

This study examined the social power manifestation, ideologies and identities represented in the political discourse as well as the social implications of these social phenomena as represented in the political speech of the political leader of Hamas in October 2023. Insights from Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analytic model was drawn as theoretical framework. A few extracts were sampled randomly for analysis. Applying a qualitative and content analysis, the findings revealed that the political leader strategically suppressed the manifestation of asymmetrical power relations in socio-political structure. It also showed that the political actors used more inclusive lexemes on his people and that of exclusion on their enemies and created the ideology of unity with his people and enmity with their rival and as a Political leader charged with responsibility of protecting his land, the political leader of Hamas maintains the protection objective of their land and celebrates the Palestinian people.