The primary purpose of this research is to analyze how framing devices of the climate crisis are used by political figures and climate activists, and how their different applications can influence the overall tone of a speech. The thesis argues that framing is a powerful tool in shaping public perception and urgency regarding climate change. Understanding the differences in framing between politicians and climate activists is important for several reasons. It sheds light on how different groups influence public perception and the overall climate discourse, and provides insights into the effectiveness of various rhetorical strategies in mobilizing support or opposition.
The paper is structured as follows: First of all, there will be theoretical background about discourse analysis in general and framing strategies in particular. The issue of the climate crisis, which is subordinate to the strategies, will also be addressed, as well as the use of frames in the discourse. In the following analysis-part of the paper, selected speeches by activists and politicians are examined. By comparing their rhetoric, in particular the use of frame strategies, the aim is to highlight the importance and complexity of these strategies for the public politic discourse, particularly how framing influences the discourse surrounding the climate crisis and its broader implications. This should enable a deeper understanding of how language is used in politics, discourse and the public sphere but especially in terms of the global climate crisis.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Theoretical Background
2.1 Discourse Analysis
2.1.1 Framing Strategies
2.2 Climate Change Discourse
2.3 Framing in the Climate Change Discourses
3 Analysis
3.1 Dr. Anton Hofreiter's Speech in German Bundestag
3.2 Greta Thunberg's Speech at the U.N. Climate Action Summit
3.3 Senator Bernie Sander's Speech
4 Comparative Analysis
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis investigates how different political figures and climate activists employ linguistic framing strategies to influence public perception and policy discourse regarding the global climate crisis. By analyzing rhetoric through the lens of discourse analysis, the research aims to identify how specific framing techniques, such as catastrophic or moral appeals, shape ideological responses and mobilize public engagement.
- The theoretical mechanisms of discourse analysis and framing theory.
- Application of climate change narratives by politicians versus activists.
- Comparative effectiveness of emotional, moral, and scientific framing.
- The role of media and rhetoric in mediating public opinion on environmental policy.
Excerpt from the Book
Framing Strategies
Framing is a theoretical concept that plays a central role in communication science, media research, and discourse analysis. The term “framing” was coined in the 1970s by the sociologist Erving Goffman and the anthropologist-psychologist Gregory Bateson. While Goffman applied Framing to social interactions in Frame Analysis, Bateson focused on the role of frames in the communication of animals and humans. Both approaches lay the foundations for the later development of framing theory in media research.
Framing describes the way in which information is structured and presented in order to influence the perception of and response to a topic (Reese 2001: 7). According to Robert M. Entman, one of the most influential theorists in the field, framing means “selecting some aspects of a perceived reality and highlighting them in a communicative text in order to promote the interpretation of a problem, its causes, moral judgments, and possible solutions” (Entman 1993: 52). Furthermore, Robert Entman distinguishes four key functions of framing: defining a problem or an issue, implicating attributions of cause, influencing moral evaluation and proposing solutions. (Jecker 2014: 69)
Framing is an indispensable tool in both politics and activism. It allows the speaker to formulate their messages in a way that shapes the discourse in certain favor. Framing can not only help to focus attention on selected aspects of a topic by selecting information but also to address emotional aspects of the audience and thus mobilizing action. This happens in political speeches, in the media and certain news programs, as well as in other public communication channels where a speaker wants to influence his audience for a particular context. Framing also plays a central role in social movements and activism since they “are especially dependent on public communication” (Gerhards 1995: 225). This is because “the quality of the frames in one of the crucial factors which determine the success of mobilization of social movements.” (Gerhards 1995: 226).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the climate crisis as a pressing societal issue, defining the research objectives regarding language use and rhetorical framing.
2 Theoretical Background: Explains key concepts like Discourse Analysis and Entman’s framing theory, providing the foundational framework for analyzing climate change narratives.
3 Analysis: Examines specific speeches by Dr. Anton Hofreiter, Greta Thunberg, and Bernie Sanders to identify the practical application of various framing devices.
4 Comparative Analysis: Directly compares the rhetorical styles, framing techniques, and intended impacts of the three analyzed figures to highlight differences between political and activist discourse.
5 Conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings, confirming that while all speakers use similar frames, their implementation serves different policy and emotional goals.
Keywords
Climate Crisis, Discourse Analysis, Framing Theory, Rhetoric, Political Discourse, Activism, Greta Thunberg, Anton Hofreiter, Bernie Sanders, Moral Framing, Catastrophe Framing, Environmental Communication, Public Perception, Narrative Strategy, Policy Mobilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the rhetorical framing strategies used by politicians and climate activists to shape the public discourse and perception of the climate crisis.
What are the central thematic fields explored in the work?
The main themes include discourse analysis, environmental communication, political rhetoric, activist narrative strategies, and the moral or rational justifications for climate action.
What is the primary research goal of the thesis?
The primary goal is to examine how different actors tailor their messaging to influence public opinion and urgency regarding climate change through specific linguistic devices.
Which scientific methods are employed throughout the text?
The work utilizes discourse analysis as its primary qualitative method to deconstruct and compare rhetoric from specific speeches by politicians and activists.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body provides a theoretical foundation on framing, followed by a detailed case analysis of speeches by Anton Hofreiter, Greta Thunberg, and Bernie Sanders, concluding with a comparative assessment.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include framing theory, climate change discourse, political rhetoric, activist communication, and narrative influence.
How does Greta Thunberg’s framing differ from that of the politicians analyzed?
Thunberg adopts a more confrontationally emotional and moral tone, focusing on a sense of betrayal and catastrophic urgency, whereas the politicians aim for more policy-oriented or systemically grounded arguments.
What significance does the "responsibility frame" have within the analyzed speeches?
It is used by all speakers to establish ethical obligations, though they differ in who they assign duty to—ranging from general humanity and current generations to specific corporate and political leaders.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2024, Framing in the Discourse of the Climate Crisis. A Comparison of Political and Activist Narratives and their Effects, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1515193
