Тема: Linguistic means of representation of Russia's image in Western media as part of NATO-Russia stand-off

This paper examines the representation of Russia's image in the Western media in the context of the Russia-NATO stand-off. The current interest in political media discourse is driven by its capacity to serve as a tool of political propaganda, as well as to facilitate the dissemination of biased information regarding political events. As a principal conduit for influencing the masses, the mass media has the capacity to manipulate social conscience and influence opinions about countries and conflicts. The relevance of the paper lies in the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of the processes by which the media exerts an influence on international relations and the formation of foreign policy agendas. Since the end of the Cold War, the relationship between Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) has fluctuated. There have been instances of co¬operation, followed by periods of tension. The advent of post-Cold War engagement was marked by the signing of the Founding Act in 1997 and the subsequent establishment of the NATO-Russia Council in 2002, which symbolised the pursuit of partnership. Nevertheless, the subsequent enlargement of NATO in 2004, the events in Georgia in 2008 and other events on the international arena have significantly strained relations. The aforementioned conflicts have led to a heightened level of tension in recent years, particularly following the decision by NATO to increase its military presence in Eastern Europe. In response, Russia has significantly increased its defence spending and intensified large-scale military exercises, thereby underscoring the growing mutual militarisation and heightened geopolitical competition between the two sides (see Appendix 2).The study of political media discourse reveals the ways in which manipulation strategies and tactics are employed to influence public opinion and interstate relations. This is particularly relevant in the context of the current challenging relations between Russia and member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The novelty of this study lies in its detailed examination of the linguistic implementation of specific tactics within the macro strategies of discrediting and legitimation, with a focus on two contrasting American media outlets, namely The New York Times and Fox News. This approach enables us to identify not only the specific linguistic means employed to shape the image of Russia, but also to assess the impact of ideological bias in the media on the selection and usage of these means in texts.
The theoretical significance of the paper is that it offers an opportunity to examine in greater detail the various manipulation strategies and tactics employed by the media in order to create a specific image of a country. This contributes to the theoretical framework in the field of media studies and political communication. The findings contribute further to the development of political linguistics.
The practical significance of the study is defined by the possibility of applying its results in theoretical and practical courses in discourse theory, pragmalinguistics, and political linguistics. The findings can also be employed to prepare materials on the discourse analysis of English-language journalistic texts. Furthermore, the materials of the paper can be employed research in related disciplines such as psychology, sociology and political science.
The subject of the study is manipulation strategies and tactics in political media discourse.
The focus of the study is the linguistic devices employed by Western media outlets in their portrayal of Russia.
The goal of this study is to identify and give a comprehensive description of the manipulation strategies and tactics employed in political media discourse in their connection with the linguistic means used to shape the image of Russia.
In order to achieve the goal, the following objectives have been set:
- study the concept of ‘political media discourse’,
- examine various types of manipulative strategies and tactics in the media,
- identify various linguistic means used by journalists in implementing manipulation strategies and tactics to construct the image of Russia in English- language political media discourse,
- conduct a comparative analysis of two American media outlets (The New York Times and Fox News) on the implementation of specific strategies and tactics for creating an image of Russia in the period from 2007 to 2021...
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This thesis presents a comprehensive study of the linguistic means by which Russia is represented in the Western media in the context of its confrontation with NATO. The goal of this study was to identify the manipulation strategies and tactics, as well as to analyse the linguistic means that contribute to the construction of a hostile image of Russia. The empirical analysis of 72 articles in The New York Times and Fox News was based on the classification of manipulation macro strategies of discrediting and legitimation by A.B. Nedzelskaya and O.O. Boriskina.
The study was conducted in accordance with the pre-established objectives, which were successfully achieved. In examining the concept of "political media discourse," the definition proposed by K.V. Nikitina was adopted. A number of works on manipulation strategies and tactics in the media have been considered, including those on strategies of manipulation by the media by N. Chomsky, works on mass manipulation by O.M. Mikhaleva, V.I. Ozyumenko, and a classification of manipulation tactics and strategies by A.B. Nedzelskaya and O.O. Boriskina. These formed the basis of our analysis. Having conducted a detailed examination of the work by R. G. Lugueva on the distinctive linguistic characteristics of shaping an image of an enemy in the Russian and Western media, we have proceeded to identify and analyze the linguistic means employed by the Western media in the practical section of the thesis. A comparative analysis was also conducted of two U.S. media outlets with disparate ideologies, with a focus on the implementation of specific strategies and tactics for creating the image of Russia over the period from 2007 to 2021.
The hypothesis that the image of Russia has become increasingly aggressive and hostile over time was confirmed through the analysis of articles in The New York Times and Fox News during the period of 2007 through 2021. The study analysed 72 articles, 32 articles in each publication, in the context of the Russia- NATO stand-off and identified 468 examples of the implementation of manipulation strategies and tactics.
The results of the analysis permit the following conclusions to be drawn:
1. The Western media frequently employ the rhetoric of "us" versus "them" in their articles, wherein Russia is depicted as a formidable and aggressive "other", while the United States and other NATO countries are presented as "we/us," seeking to deter Russian aggression. This “we/us” rhetoric may also include non¬member countries, such as Ukraine.
2. The majority of linguistic means (422) are employed as part of the macro strategy of discrediting and the strategy of downplay, creating an image of the country as an aggressor and provocateur. This emphasises the media's strategic choice to maintain the image of Russia as a constant threat to world stability and security. It is also noteworthy that tactics are often used simultaneously to create a more comprehensive image of Russia.
3. The media actively employ linguistic means within the framework of the tactic of accusation (114 instances) and the tactic of threat (63 instances), to construct a narrative that depicts Russia as a hostile, unprincipled entity. This portrayal serves to reinforce the idea that Russia is a threat.
4. The use of linguistic means with meliorative connotation designed to enhance a positive perception of Russia was documented during the period of rapprochement (2008-2012: presidency of D. Medvedev (Russia), administration of B. Obama (USA)). The analysis revealed a notable increase in the use of such terms as "new beginnings", "fresh start" and "reset button" a corresponding decline in the use of pejoratively-charged evaluative vocabulary, and a clear emphasis on diplomatic engagement and a willingness to engage in dialogue. It seems plausible to suggest that the Western media do not wish to portray Vladimir Putin as the President of Russia. Consequently, the aforementioned image of Russia was no longer present in the articles of both media outlets after V. Putin regained presidency in 2012.
5. The New York Times and Fox News diverge in their depictions of Russia. The former employs a multifaceted and emotionally charged approach, portraying Russia as an aggressive and unpredictable actor. In contrast, Fox News adheres to a more restrained and factual approach. The New York Times provides coverage of a number of events that are not included in the Fox News agenda. This is due to the prioritisation of domestic affairs by Fox News. Some international events coincide, for example, with the elections in the United States. In such instances, the outlet in question may choose to describe the elections, as they perceive this to be of greater interest to their audience. Similarly, Fox News does not seek to shape the image of Russia up to 2014, as the outlet tends to criticise the authorities inside the US, especially those on the democratic side of the political spectrum. It is evident that both outlets have a tendency to portray Russia as an aggressor, particularly in the period following 2014. This perception has a similar effect on the minds of Western readers...
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