This study extends the application of the Functional Theory of Political Campaign Discourse to investigate the nature of the first Arab presidential debate in history. The study also shows how such mediated discourse has been influenced by rhetorical use of the presidential candidates. It is found that the distribution of speech functions represented in attacks, acclaims and defenses has important significances in such kind of discourse. The theory hypothesizes that ‘acclaims' are more common than attacks or defenses in debates and the analysis confirms such hypothesis. The analysis of this first Arab presidential debate reflects significant rhetorical strategies analysed within the framework of the Theory of Political Campaign Discourse. The findings depict the role of media as an influence on the political situation in Egypt at the climate of political conflict especially when the two candidates have totally different political and ideological backgrounds.
TopRationale Of The Study
The 2012 presidential debate is selected for this study for two specific reasons. First, this presidential debate is the first in the Arab modern history. Secondly, and most importantly, the two presidential candidates come from different political schools that have always been known to be of conflicting interests. The different political ideologies of the two nominees can be vividly compared especially after the 25th of January revolution that opened the door for religious parties, to which Aboulfotouh belongs, to step up in the political arena.
Through the use of media, the candidates are seen to have utilized the different mediated forms in their campaigns. Mousa-Aboulfotouh the first and only debate carried out represents a precedence that needs to be focused on especially when it comprises two civil candidates with two opposite political backgrounds, that is the ousted regime and Muslim Brothers (MB). The study utilizes the Functional Theory of Political Campaign Discourse proposed by Benoit seeking to answer the following questions:
- 1.
What functions the candidates frequently use to try to persuade their voters?
- 2.
How do candidates portrait their self-images and depict the image of the other?
- 3.
What is the distribution of functions in the debate?
- 4.
How will candidates emphasize the policy and character of the self and the Other?
TopThe Political Situation In Egypt
The history of the Egyptian politics may take us back thousands of years. The length of this study remains an obstacle for getting in depth with its presentation. A vast number of scholars are concerned with such topic from prehistory until the near present (Doran, 1999; Fahmy, 2002; Thompson, 2008).
In the twentieth century, namely in 1952, the first president of Egypt Mohamed Naguib and his fellows of the Revolutionary Command Council came in power after the end of a long monarchy. Those Liberal officers, as they called themselves, took control of the Egyptian state. Since then, and until year 2011, Presidents of military background ruled and it is only the death of the president is the path to the change of presidency. Gamal Abdel Naser is followed by Mohamed Anwar El Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981.