CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF LACLAU AND ITS APPLICATION IN POLICY

Author

Abstract

Discourse analysis or discourse theory deals with meaningful roles of behaviors
and social ideas in political life, hence it is considered as one of the most modern
research methods in political sciences. This paper, with the purpose of political
studies, regards Ernesto Laclau and Shantal Mouffe`s discourse analysis more
appropriate, and as a result, in addition to stating the grounds for the formation and
typology of discourse analyses, it determines the main concepts and the function of
Laclau and Mouffe`s discourse analysis as well as criticisms on this post-modern
approach, with regard to Iranian-Islamic research.
It can be assumed that Laclau and Mouffe`s discourse analysis has potentials to
political determinations, even for the case of Islamic Revolution discourse; yet
regarding the drawbacks to this post-modern discourse analysis, selective borrowing
from this theory and level of analysis can be made and it can be used as an analytical
tool for Islamic Revolution studies. To attain this objective, it requires some
rethinking and free utilization of Laclau and Mouffe`s discourse analysis with its
theoretical structure in local and Islamic political research.

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