Kuusisto, Riikka (1998).  Framing the Wars in the Gulf and in Bosnia:  The Rhetorical Definitions of the Western Power Leaders in Action.  Journal of Peace Research, 35(5), 603-620.

Kuusisto begins the article with an assertion that wars are played out equally through words and action.  She looks at the way words are used to construct war through a constructionist point of view.  Her analysis looks at the metaphors used in the speeches and statements made by government leaders from the United States, Great Britain and France.  The most predominant metaphors compared the conflict to a nightmare, morass, natural catastrophe, games, sports, business or storybooks.  The rhetorical power of these metaphors allowed the leaders to cultivate positive public opinion and limit responses to the conflict to fit their own agendas.  Although Kuusisto argues the metaphors were not used in a deceitful way, they were used in a way to garner support via emotional rather than rational thought processes.

Kuusisto’s article does not directly address how the news media cover conflict.  She does explain how different metaphors can be used to construct the “reality” of a conflict through discourse.  These metaphors are important because the news media also frequently employ the same exact metaphors in their conflict reporting.  The metaphors government officials use to describe conflict are also important because officials are sourced often in the media.  Officials are often the primary definers of conflict.

Abstract by Meghan Maskery

Missouri School of Journalism

MA ‘07