Political Discourse

The use of language in the conduct of politics has been a potent force in shaping the engagement of individuals and their participation in the political process. The recognition of political discourse as a critical element in the development of the Western political tradition has had a long history. In ancient Greece, the Sophists gained prominence as itinerant teachers of public oratory whose goal was to provide instruction to students in the functions and powers of discourse. They fostered the rise of rhetoric as a tool to motivate and persuade introducing argumentation strategies to question, challenge, and debate. In this sense, they sought to level the playing field by providing students the art or techneˉ of achieving human excellence through their own initiative rather than ...