Critical discourse analysis in political communication research: a case study of right-wing populist discourse in Australia

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to showcase critical discourse analysis (CDA) in political communication research through an empirical case study of right-wing populist discourse in Australia. It is argued here that critical discourse analysis is a valuable resource for the field of political communication for understanding an increasingly complex media and communication environment. The article serves as a worked example for communication scholars looking to apply critical discourse analysis in a political context. As such, it provides a detailed overview of the theoretical underpinnings of critical discourse analysis, its significant approaches and their shared tenets. The case study of Australian Senator Pauline Hanson’s 2016 maiden speech provides a step-by-step account of the processes involved in conducting a critical discourse analysis, including the strengths and limitations of this approach. The paper contributes to the growing calls within the field for a deeper engagement with qualitative and critical approaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Populism
• critical discourse analysis
• far-right
• political communication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kurt Sengul

Kurt Sengul is a PhD Candidate in the School of Creative Industries at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His doctoral research focuses on the political communication of Senator Pauline Hanson and has been published in the area of populist communication and political public relations.