This paper first examines and looks into the definitions, development and sources of political correctness as a cultural concept, which has significantly been coined in a certain direction since its first occurrence. Beforehand, as a framework and to put it into a sociological relevant perspective, Pierre Bourdieu, Bruno Latour and their findings about the connection of language, society and their mutual influence will be discussed. Furthermore, putting theory into practice, three speeches of three different politicians representing anti-PC-strategies via three different sorts of media will be analysed. Moreover, respective repercussions in society will be outlined and associated with results of the analysis.
"Political Correctness belongs in the dustbin of history", Alice Weidel, faction leader of the far-right populist German party AFD enthusiastically demanded on the nationwide party´s conference in 2017. This statement made her and her party´s position regarding political correctness perfectly clear. When it comes to the emotional debate about being pro or anti political correctness, it seems to be that the far-right parties across Europe and many conservative politicians in the United States have similar attitudes to this topic.
The urgency of exploring and revealing strategies which connect PC and far-right propaganda and thereby coin a dangerous cultural narrative, can be observed for instance in Germany in respect of the predominantly anti-muslim blog Politically Incorrect News (PI news), which is under surveillance of the Bavarian constitution protection and counts 10.000 daily visitors in 2017. The blog´s operators describe their site as against mainstream, pro-American and pro-Israeli, and in a constant battle for the German constitution against the ´ideology´ of multiculturalism.
Now, the United States of America have been functioning and still work in many diverse realms of cultural and respective political changes as a blueprint and virtually as a forecast for developments in Europe. This has been and still is the case with political correctness as a phenomena, which seems to be a connecting piece of society and politics. Consequently, examining and understanding PC and anti-PC as a presumed strategy of politicians of the right means tracing it back to its origins in the U.S.. Eventually, analysing its effects and consequences can possibly provide an idea how to counteract the difficulties which it also causes in Europe.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Sociological perspectives
- 2.1. Pierre Bourdieu's "Language and symbolic power"
- 2.2. Bruno Latour's "Power of association"
- 3. The attempt of defining PC and anti-PC
- 4. The controversial development of PC - a weapon in Culture War?
- 5. American public discourse and the population's perception of PC
- 6. Political rhetoric, propaganda and its characteristics
- 7. George Bush Sr.'s speech at Michigan University in 1991
- 7.1. Speaker and historical context
- 7.2. Speech content analysis
- 7.3. Fact checking: Threat by speech codes on universities?
- 7.4. Aftermath the economic profit of PC and its spread
- 8. Propaganda 2.0 - the role of new media
- 9. Brian Kemp's YouTube video "So conservative" in 2018
- 9.1. Speaker and temporal context
- 9.2. Video speech analysis
- 9.3. Fact checking: Threat by undocumented immigrants?
- 9.4. Aftermath
- 9.4.1. Study effects of anti-PC-campaigning
- 9.4.2. The medium YouTube in general and the video's resonance in particular
- 10. Donald Trump's tweet in 2017
- 10.1. Speaker and political context
- 10.2. Twitter, Trump and PC - a dangerous connection
- 10.3. Tweet analysis
- 10.4. Fact checking: Threat by banned immigrants
- 10.5. Aftermath
- 10.5.1. Respective reactions on Twitter
- 10.5.2. Trump's speech – climax of anti-PC evolution?
- 10.5.3. The "Trump effect"- theory and beyond
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze how right-wing political actors in the United States utilize the concept of political correctness (PC) to maintain power and influence public discourse. The study examines the development and strategic deployment of anti-PC rhetoric, exploring its effectiveness in shaping public opinion and achieving political goals. The analysis focuses on specific examples of anti-PC strategies employed by prominent figures.
- The definition and evolution of political correctness as a cultural concept.
- The strategic use of anti-PC rhetoric by right-wing politicians.
- The role of different media in disseminating anti-PC messages.
- The impact of anti-PC campaigns on public opinion and political discourse.
- The connection between anti-PC strategies and propaganda techniques.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of political correctness (PC) and its instrumentalization by right-wing political actors. It highlights the use of anti-PC rhetoric by figures like Alice Weidel (AfD) and Marine Le Pen, demonstrating how PC is framed as a threat to free speech and used to garner support. The chapter establishes the importance of studying the US context, which often serves as a precursor to similar developments in Europe, and sets the stage for the analysis of specific cases throughout the paper.
2. Sociological perspectives: This chapter provides a sociological framework for understanding the relationship between language, power, and society by examining the work of Pierre Bourdieu and Bruno Latour. Bourdieu’s concept of habitus is introduced, emphasizing the inherent link between language and individual identity within power structures. This lays the groundwork for analyzing how language is manipulated within political discourse.
6. Political rhetoric, propaganda and its characteristics: This chapter delves into the characteristics of political rhetoric and propaganda, providing the theoretical tools necessary to analyze the speeches and media appearances examined later in the paper. The chapter will lay out the methods and techniques used to analyze the communication strategies, establishing a critical lens through which to understand the manipulation of language and public perception.
Keywords
Political Correctness, Anti-PC strategies, Right-wing Politics, Propaganda, Public Discourse, Media Analysis, American Politics, Social Influence, Power, Language, Discourse Analysis, Qualitative Content Analysis, George H.W. Bush, Brian Kemp, Donald Trump.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Anti-PC Strategies in US Right-Wing Politics
What is the main focus of this research paper?
This paper analyzes how right-wing political actors in the United States utilize the concept of political correctness (PC) to maintain power and influence public discourse. It examines the development and strategic deployment of anti-PC rhetoric, exploring its effectiveness in shaping public opinion and achieving political goals. The analysis focuses on specific examples of anti-PC strategies employed by prominent figures like George H.W. Bush, Brian Kemp, and Donald Trump.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the definition and evolution of political correctness, the strategic use of anti-PC rhetoric by right-wing politicians, the role of different media (including speeches, YouTube videos, and tweets) in disseminating anti-PC messages, the impact of anti-PC campaigns on public opinion and political discourse, and the connection between anti-PC strategies and propaganda techniques.
What sociological perspectives are used to frame the analysis?
The paper utilizes the sociological work of Pierre Bourdieu (particularly his concept of "habitus" and "symbolic power") and Bruno Latour ("power of association") to understand the relationship between language, power, and society. This framework helps analyze how language is manipulated within political discourse.
Which specific cases are analyzed in detail?
The paper includes in-depth analyses of three specific cases:
- George H.W. Bush's 1991 speech at Michigan University.
- Brian Kemp's 2018 YouTube video "So conservative."
- A Donald Trump tweet from 2017.
What methods are used to analyze the speeches and media content?
The paper employs qualitative content analysis to examine the communication strategies used in the chosen examples. The chapter on political rhetoric and propaganda provides the theoretical tools for understanding the manipulation of language and public perception.
What are the overall conclusions of the paper?
While the provided text is a preview and doesn't offer complete conclusions, it aims to demonstrate how right-wing political actors strategically utilize anti-PC rhetoric as a tool to influence public opinion and achieve political goals. The analysis of specific cases helps to illustrate the effectiveness and consequences of these strategies.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: Political Correctness, Anti-PC strategies, Right-wing Politics, Propaganda, Public Discourse, Media Analysis, American Politics, Social Influence, Power, Language, Discourse Analysis, Qualitative Content Analysis, George H.W. Bush, Brian Kemp, Donald Trump.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into chapters covering an introduction, sociological perspectives, a definition of PC and anti-PC, the controversial development of PC, American public discourse, political rhetoric and propaganda, and detailed case studies of George H.W. Bush, Brian Kemp, and Donald Trump's communication. It also includes a conclusion (not fully detailed in this preview) and a bibliography (not included in this preview).
- Quote paper
- Jessica Ulrich (Author), 2020, Anti PC-Strategies. How Actors of the Political Right Use the Concept of Political Correctness to Maintain Power and Influence the American Public, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1348448
