The thesis examines how language shaped the public discourse concerning the German ISAF mission between 2009 and 2010. It focuses on the political and strategic communication concerning the German contribution to the mission.
This paper examines a variety of definitions of war and discusses their applicability for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Although traditional, state-centered definitions of war are still relevant in legal respects, today inter-state wars between two belligerent states are the exception. Therefore, to be useful any definition of wars have to emphasise the effects of warfare and cover inter-state wars, and intra-state wars.
After a series of incidents in Afghanistan, including the so-called Kunduz Airstrike and the Good Friday Battle, German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg described the security situation in Afghanistan as “kriegsähnlich” (war-like). He later progressed to describing it as “war”. This started a controversial debate. Before his pronouncements, the neutral term “Stabilisierungseinsatz” (stabilisation mission) was in official use. His actions stirred debate amongst the press and politicians in Germany about the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission. This debate centred on the political and military objectives in Afghanistan and the label of war.
Table of Contents
One – Introduction
1. Preface
Two – Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Definitions of War
2.2.1 Traditional Definitions of War
2.2.2 New Wars
2.3 The Media at War
2.3.1 Media coverage during the Cold War
2.3.2 Television Wars
2.3.3 The Media and the Global War on Terror
2.3.4 New Media in Conflicts
2.4 Conclusion
2.4.1 The Usability of the Term War
2.4.2 The German Media and the ISAF Mission
Three - Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Epistemological Stance
3.3 Research Methods
3.3.1 Discourse Analysis
3.2.2 Semi-structured Interviews
3.4 Ethical Considerations
3.5 Limitations of the Research
Four - Findings
4.1 Introduction
4.2 “Stabilisierungseinsatz” (2002-2008)
4.3 Kunduz Airstrike (9 September 2009)
4.4 War and War-like Conditions
4.5 Adapted Goals and Messages
4.5.1 End State vs. End Date
4.6 Outcomes of the changed Strategic Communication
Five - Conclusion
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Key Findings
5.3 Conclusions and Recommendations
5.4 Areas for Further Research
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis investigates how language and political framing, specifically the transition from the term "stabilisation mission" to "war," shaped the public discourse surrounding Germany’s participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2010.
- The impact of political terminology on public perception and discourse.
- The relationship between government, military, and the media in conflict reporting.
- The role of the Kunduz Airstrike and the Good Friday Battle in shifting the public narrative.
- Strategic communication challenges within the German political and defense establishment.
- The contrast between official government rhetoric and the tactical realities faced by soldiers.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Definitions of War
War is, therefore, not only a true chameleon, because it changes its nature in some degree in each particular case, but it is also, as a whole, in relation to the predominant tendencies which are in it, a wonderful trinity, composed of the original violence of its elements, hatred and animosity.
(von Clausewitz, 1873: 13)
The nature of war is not static: Technical development goes hand in hand with tactical evolution; political, economic and social change each have an enormous impact on belligerents and warfare itself. It is not surprising that the diversity of combat gives the reason for versatile contested definitions of war.
Initially, I will introduce the traditional approaches to defining war. The social and the political frameworks of ancient and medieval wars are completely different to those in present times. To gaining comparable results, it is necessary to investigate the modern European national state. Thus this examination is limited to the Post-Westphalian Era.
The end of the Cold War, globalisation and little noticed inner-state conflicts shaped the political and the academic discussions about war. The following sets out some new approaches and terms - such as the distinction between new and old wars (Kaldor, 2007; Münkler, 2005) that have been introduced. After that, I will present and discuss several alternatives to the definition of war, before I develop a useful definition which will then serve as a focus for this thesis.
Summary of Chapters
One – Introduction: Outlines the research focus on the impact of language on strategic communication during the German ISAF mission, driven by personal experience and the need to analyze the shift in political terminology.
Two – Literature Review: Establishes a theoretical framework by discussing definitions of war, the relationship between the media and the military, and the role of language in creating interpretative frameworks.
Three - Methodology: Details the qualitative, constructivist approach, explaining the use of critical discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews to examine the research question.
Four - Findings: Analyzes the chronological evolution of the government’s strategic communication, contrasting the "stabilisation mission" narrative with the later usage of "war-like conditions" and "war" following critical incidents.
Five - Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings regarding the power of political framing and provides recommendations for improved strategic communication and transparency in future missions.
Keywords
Strategic Communication, ISAF, Afghanistan, Discourse Analysis, War, Political Framing, Bundeswehr, Kunduz Airstrike, Good Friday Battle, Stabilisation Mission, Public Opinion, Political Language, Media Coverage, New Wars, Foreign Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this research primarily about?
The thesis explores how the choice of terminology used by German politicians—specifically the labels "stabilisation mission" versus "war"—influenced public discourse and the perception of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2010.
What are the central themes of the study?
The study centers on political communication, the evolving definition of war, the interaction between the media and government, and the disconnect between tactical military realities and strategic political messaging.
What is the primary research question?
The fundamental question is: How did language and political framing shape the public discourse concerning the German ISAF mission during the specified period?
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The research employs a qualitative constructivist approach, utilizing critical discourse analysis of primary documents, media reports, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including the former Minister of Defence.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body examines historical definitions of war, media mechanics in conflict, the Kunduz Airstrike, the semantic shift in government language, and the impact of these narratives on public trust and policy.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Strategic Communication, Political Framing, ISAF, Discourse Analysis, Bundeswehr, and War-like conditions.
Why was the term "Stabilisierungseinsatz" so persistent?
The term was used by consecutive governments to maintain public support by emphasizing peace-keeping and development goals, avoiding the legal and political implications of the word "war" in a post-WWII German context.
How did the Kunduz Airstrike change the discourse?
The incident undermined the government’s restricted information policy, forcing a more open—albeit controversial—debate about the reality of the mission and leading to the eventual adoption of more transparent communication strategies.
What role did the "Good Friday Battle" play?
This battle served as a pivotal point where the tactical reality of combat could no longer be ignored, leading prominent politicians to adopt the term "war," thereby breaking the previous semantic taboo.
- Quote paper
- Aaron Faßbender (Author), 2017, The Impact of Language on Strategic Communication. A Discourse Analysis of the Public Debate about Germany’s Mission in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2010, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1130733
