Scholarly Definitions of Political Discourse
1. Hartmut Wessler defines it as:
“All forms of communication in and by political institutions or actors and all communication with
reference to political matters. Thus, political public relations, both internal and external, news,
commentary, film, talk shows, citizens' everyday talk about politics etc. are all sites of political
discourse.”
He further emphasizes that different contexts use specific modes—like framing, heuristics of
judgment, or news values—to construct political realities. Wiley Online Library
2. An overview in iResearchNet echoes this notion and adds a theoretical dimension. It states:
“Political discourse comprises all forms of communication in and by political institutions or actors ...
Different sites follow different rules of selection and construction of political reality...”
The entry contrasts two strands of theorization:
o
Normative discourse theory (e.g., Habermas): discourse is understood as a process
of rational argumentation and justification under conditions of ideal speech,
enabling public deliberation.
o
Critical/french philosophical tradition: studies how discourse serves social and
political ends, including domination, ideology, and agency.
Communication
3. From ScienceDirect / International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, we get
a deeper framing:
“Political discourse refers to the communication and interpretation of events and ideas within the
realm of politics. It involves the establishment of frames of meaning and the application of principles
of hierarchy, representation, and accountability in the exercise of power...”
It highlights how political discourse constructs systems of order through rational-logical and mythological narratives, embedding symbolic meaning (e.g., metaphors, master narratives) into political
communication. ScienceDirect
4. A more genre-oriented definition appears in a StudyLib (academic repository) summary:
o
According to Bayley (2008), political discourse consists of various genres—policy
papers, speeches, press releases, manifestos, etc.—produced by political actors in
political forums.
o
Chilton & Schaffner (1999) define it as any discourse where linguistic or other
actions involve power or resistance.
o
Wilson (2001) describes it as language used in formal and informal political contexts
by actors (politicians, institutions, media, supporters) with political goals.
o
It is framed as “written or spoken language... used in politics to steer the emotions of
audience to affect their opinions and attitudes,” intentionally designed, highly
structured, and rich in figurative language. studylib.net
5. The Wikipedia entry on Discourse Analysis encapsulates:
“Political discourse is the text and talk of professional politicians or political institutions… includes
both the speaker and the audience.”
It notes that political discourse analysis broadly studies language use in political forums like debates
and speeches. Wikipedia