Publication Date

2017-04-21

Availability

Open access

Embargo Period

2017-04-21

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

International Studies (Arts and Sciences)

Date of Defense

2017-04-03

First Committee Member

Joaquín Roy

Second Committee Member

Bryan Page

Third Committee Member

Ambler Moss

Abstract

A new wave of populism is hitting the world. New political profiles are emerging to international politics. This case study develops a comparative discourse analysis of Italy’s Primer Minister Silvio Berlusconi and United States’ President Donald Trump during their first campaign as politicians. This comparison confirms the media outlets’ theory that both candidates are almost the same, at least when it comes to their populist speeches. To understand these outsiders of politics, two speeches per candidate were analyzed through three different discourse analysis methods. Despite the fact that each candidate came from different contexts, the study showed that they both used their speeches to get the forgotten masses through populist techniques. This study intends to collaborate with the formation of a universal concept of populism.

Keywords

populism; discourse; politicians; Trump; Berlusconi

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