SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND SOCIAL REALITY: RHETORICAL DISCOURSE IN REVOLUTIONARY GUERRILLA WARFARE

JAMES FRANCIS WALSH, Purdue University

Abstract

Rhetorical examinations of social movements and social reality have been made from disparate theoretical perspectives. A single theoretical framework is needed to unite the findings of theoretically-disparate rhetorical studies of social movements and of social reality. Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann's The Social Construction of Reality contains such a framework. Application of their theories to the progress of Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla insurgency, a type of social movement which attempts to transform social reality, both demonstrates the usefulness of Berger and Luckmann's theories as a rhetorical method for examining social movements and social reality and indicates ways in which their theories can be used as a guide and a warrant for uniting rhetorical studies of social movements and of social reality. Revolutionary guerrillas use discursive and non-discursive means to generate and mobilize discontent and to transform objective and subjective social reality. Messages addressed to movement members generate discontent by creating hatred for the established government and mobilize discontent by presenting the revolutionary ideology, and by appeals to self-interest, consubstantiation, and coercion. Messages addressed to government personnel generate discontent by attacking the motives that inspire government service. Messages addressed to movement members increase members' willingness to act on behalf of the movement and transform the subjective and objective reality which they "inhabit." Revolutionary guerrillas transmit these messages primarily through interpersonal and group communication channels. Berger and Luckmann's theories illuminate guerrilla movements' messages as serving movement needs by transforming objective and subjective reality. In so doing, they indicate a theoretical framework and definition of movements within which disparate approaches to social movements and social reality may be combined.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Communication

COinS