Politics & Rhetoric: A Critical Introduction

James Martin

ISBN 10: 0415706718 / ISBN 13: 9780415706711

Published by Routledge, 2014

About this Item

Good+. Paperback, x + 188 pages, NOT ex-library. Clean and bright interior with unmarked text, free of inscriptions and stamps, firmly bound. Moderate wear to tips of corners of covers, a touch of wear to tips of page corners. Spine free of vertical creases, short horizontal creases to the upper edge. -- An essential exploration of the intersection between political theory and rhetorical analysis, this book provides a thorough examination of how rhetoric shapes political discourse and the ways in which political actors use language to influence, persuade, and construct social realities. Martin delves into classical and contemporary rhetorical theories, analyzing their relevance to modern political contexts. Through case studies and critical examples, the book illuminates the power dynamics inherent in political communication and the role of rhetoric in shaping public opinion and policy. This critical introduction is invaluable for students, scholars, and practitioners interested in the art and impact of political rhetoric.

Seller Inventory # 010036

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Politics & Rhetoric: A Critical Introduction
• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication Date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415706718
• ISBN 13: 9780415706711
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

Rhetoric is the art of speech and persuasion, the study of argument and, in Classical times, an essential component in the education of the citizen. For rhetoricians, politics is a skill to be performed and not merely observed. Yet in modern democracies we often suspect political speech of malign intent and remain uncertain how properly to interpret and evaluate it. Public arguments are easily dismissed as ‘mere rhetoric’ rather than engaged critically, with citizens encouraged to be passive consumers of a media spectacle rather than active participants in a political dialogue.

This volume provides a clear and instructive introduction to the skills of the rhetorical arts. It surveys critically the place of rhetoric in contemporary public life and assesses its virtues as a tool of political theory. Questions about power and identity in the practices of political communication remain central to the rhetorical tradition: how do we know that we are not being manipulated by those who seek to persuade us? Only a grasp of the techniques of rhetoric and an understanding of how they manifest themselves in contemporary politics, argues the author, can guide us in answering these perennial questions.

Politics and Rhetoric draws together in a comprehensive and highly accessible way relevant ideas from discourse analysis, classical rhetoric updated to a modern setting, relevant issues in contemporary political theory, and numerous carefully chosen examples and issues from current politics. It will be essential reading for all students of politics and political communications.

About the Author

James Martin is Professor of Politics and Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Media and Democracy at Goldsmiths, University of London.