Comparing Presidential Rhetoric in the Ukraine War: A Poststructuralist Discourse Analysis of US and Russian Media Discourses and Public Attitudes (2022)

Abstract

This study examines the role of presidential rhetoric and media discourse in shaping public opinion during the Ukraine War of 2022, using a post-structuralist framework. ​ It compares the narratives of U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, analysing their speeches and the media's reproduction of these discourses through CNN and RT. Biden's rhetoric emphasized Russia's aggression, sovereignty violations, and global security threats, employing provocative language to frame Russia as the aggressor and Ukraine as the victim. Conversely, Putin's rhetoric invoked historical revisionism, nationalist appeals, and existential threats, portraying Ukraine as a Western proxy and justifying Russia's actions as defensive measures. ​Media outlets amplified these narratives, with CNN reinforcing the United States’ perspective of Russia as a critical threat and RT echoing Putin's claims of Western hypocrisy and aggression. The study highlights how elite rhetoric and media discourse seek to construct public opinion, revealing a convergence between official narratives and public attitudes. ​ Polls from Levada and Gallup demonstrate increased approval for Putin and heightened American support for Ukraine, reflecting the influence of discursive framing. The analysis underscores the power of language in legitimizing foreign policy actions, shaping identities, and reinforcing antagonisms.​ This research calls for a critical reassessment of the interplay between rhetoric, media, and public opinion in foreign policy, emphasizing the need to challenge hegemonic discourses and their implications for global security. ​