Discourse and International Relations

This book assembles a selection of essays on Discourse and Intercultural Relations presented at Murcia University in September 2004. After the recent outburst of the East-West conflict intercultural relations and the challenges embedded in intercultural communication are of increasing importance. This compilation unravels these topics from the point of view of Discourse Analysis and Cultural Studies. The main aim is to highlight the discursive strategies employed by the dominant political elite in a variety of contexts to maintain and reinforce their power position in intercultural encounters. The paramount concern is, therefore, to reflect upon the interrelations between language, power and discourse (in the Foucaultian sense). Within a broad theoretical framework, the contributions are divided into two main parts. Part I includes papers which work within the field of Critical Discourse Studies and explore ideological issues, such as the concept of ‘otherness’, identity, race and the mass media’s manipulation of public opinion. Part II adopts a more culturally based stance covering topics, such as intercultural competence, hybridity, intercultural education etc.