Fighting Words: Book Explores Political Language

Georgetown’s Fathali Moghaddam and Rom Harré have release a new book titled, "Fighting Words: Book Explores Political Language" which examines, through editing essays, how heads of state use language to redirect collective politics supporting conflict or peace.

I have previously read another book both released together titled, "Global conflict resolution through positioning analysis" while studying for my Masters in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and found it to be very helpful.

The book focuses on narratives and as the article explains:

“Looking at the way challenges to acts of positioning are handled reveals the role of deep moral principles…” they explain. According to Moghaddam, the focus on narratives, from the interpersonal to the international, leads to a better understanding of political processes and conflict resolution.

This analysis of positioning theory bridges both psychology and linguistics – something Georgetown’s long-standing strength in linguistics has helped to develop. Part of the book deals with micropolitics and personal positioning, while the latter half explores macropolitics positioning by political parties and factions.

The book shows links between both types of positioning in the leadership styles of President Barack Obama, Ahmadinejad, Bush, Sarah Palin and the Rev. Ian Paisley. “Positioning does not apply to one group or one person in isolation, but is constant and ongoing,” says Moghaddam.

Read the full article [here] and also read more about Moghaddam and Positioning Theory [here].

(Originally posted at www.EnjoyMediation.com)

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