Discursive construction of ideologies and power relations in UN general assembly speeches: An integrated SFL, appraisal, and critical discourse analysis

Abstract

This study aims to examine the ideological meanings and power relations embedded in the speakers' lexicogrammatical patterns and evaluative choices on issues of global peace and political conflict. The data sources were the speech texts delivered by 5 world leaders at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The data collected were documented, reduced, coded and classified based on the transitivity patterns and attitude resources. Halliday’s (1994) Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and Martin and White’s (2005) attitude system of appraisal were employed to answer the research questions, and Fairclough’s (2001) Critical Discourse Analysis was employed to analyze the ideologies and power relations. The results show the dominant process type embedded in the speeches is the material process, indicating speakers’ demands for real actions to solve the conflict and keep global peace. These linguistic choices produce different ideological positions toward global peace and political conflicts. Meanwhile, the speakers positively value and judge to encourage the international community and international institutions to be responsible actors in the building of global peace. Human rights, justice, and conflict resolution are expected to be achieved by reproducing state-centered power relations, multilateral cooperation, and challenging asymmetrical power relations, which are affected by each nation’s geopolitical position, historical experiences, and national interests.