CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING IN THE SPEECH OF DR MAHATIR MOHAMAD DELIVERED AT UNGA 74TH SESSION: A POLITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Abstract

The study investigates socio-political ideology in the speech of Mahathir Muhammad at UNGA’s 74th session regarding climate change. The study aims at finding out how political speakers persuade the masses using persuasive techniques proposed by van Dijk (2005). The study is qualitative, and the data was collected through a purposive sampling technique while using an interpretive paradigm. Moreover, the data was analysed through the thematic analysis model. The study’s findings prescribe that the political leader highlighted issue of climate change, employing political persuasion. The findings of the study reveal that political leaders like Mathair Muhammad have utilized persuasive strategies at international political events. The said leader seemed successful in promoting his ideology following the context of modern democracy. Moreover, he subconsciously utilized discursive, rhetorical and persuasive strategies such as personal pronoun, ‘I’ and ‘we’, modal verbs, number game, fear-based representation, positive self-representation and his concerns about public well-being. All this can be explored through the situational and political context.