The present study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter introduces the theoretical framework, including the main figures of Critical Discourse Analysis discipline, their work, and its relevance to this research. Namely, works by Norman Fairclough and Teun van Dijk were chosen to support the theoretical background of this study. In this chapter the concepts of discourse and their detailed specification are provided. The second chapter outlines the cultural-historical background of United States' involvement in the Middle East. It primarily describes the history of relations the U.S. has had with Iraq and Egypt. The third and fourth chapters are devoted to the analysis of U.S. foreign policy proclamations with regard to the individual cases of Iraq and Egypt separately. Here, detailed analyses of some representative samples of language with respect to the set concepts of discourse are demonstrated. Altogether thirteen different proclamations provide the material for the study. The final chapter presents a summary of the researched facts and provides conclusions and answers to the initial research questions. .
1. Theoretical Framework and Analysis Method.
The thesis draws on the theory of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and primarily follows the concepts of CDA as asserted by Norman Fairclough (1989, 2003) and Teun A. van Dijk (1983, 1998, 2001, 2008). It aims to conduct a critical discourse analysis of proclamations made by the two most recent American administrations, those of Bush and Obama, regarding their foreign policy decisions towards the Middle Eastern countries of Iraq and Egypt. The study uses a qualitative content analytical research method1. Together thirteen representative proclamations containing suitable language for the research were chosen for the purpose of the thesis. This data will be systematically analysed according to the particular concepts of discourse as specified further below.