Discourse, Polarization, and the Ideological Square: A CDA of Middle East Peace Narratives in Traditional and Social Media

Abstract

 This study critically examines the political discourse surrounding peace negotiations in the Middle East through the lens of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). By applying van Dijk's socio-cognitive model and Fairclough's three-dimensional framework, the research shows that language holds significant weight in constructing ideology, power relations, and national identity. A primary Urdu political commentary, translated into English, is analyzed alongside neutral and Western policy perspectives, as well as contemporary social media reactions from X (formerly Twitter). Findings demonstrate that the primary text employs emotive language, presuppositions, and ideological polarization to position Pakistan positively while framing global actors strategically. Social media discourse intensifies these binaries through hashtag-driven echo chambers and memetic warfare. The study concludes that such discourse conditions reader perception through simplified binaries and emotional resonance, risking the oversimplification of complex geopolitical realities. Recommendations comprise the implementation of digital competency programs and the systematic corpus-based tracking of manipulative discursive strategies.