Exploring the discourse of National Islam and Foreign Islam in the Australian press: A critical discourse analysis

Muhammad Junaid Ghauri; Amrat Haq; Riffat Alam

doi:10.47264/idea.jhsms/2.2.22

Authors

Muhammad Junaid Ghauri Department of Media and Communication Studies, International Islamic University Islamabad,, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7385-4259
Amrat Haq Department of Media and Communication Studies, International Islamic University Islamabad,, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0748-4493
Riffat Alam Department of Mass Communication, Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.jhsms/2.2.22

Keywords:

National Islam, Foreign Islam, Critical discourse analysis, ideological square, lexicalization, representation

Abstract

Research conducted in some European countries and in the US has evidenced that there is a considerable difference in the media coverage of the National/Internal and Foreign/External Islam. Wherein, the latter is viewed and portrayed as a ‘greater threat’ to the mainstream society. This research endeavour is an effort to explore the predominant themes associated with the Foreign/External Islam in the editorials of the two selected Australian newspapers during January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. The researcher has employed Tuen A. van Dijk’s (1998) ideological square and lexicalization strategies from the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) paradigm to examine the editorials of The Age and The Australian. The research findings are evident that in the coverage of the Foreign Islam both the selected newspapers have associated ‘conflict’, ‘violence’ and ‘collectivism’ with Islam and Muslims, however The Australian highlighted ‘women underrepresentation’ also. While covering the National Islam, The Age highlighted the ‘victimization’ and ‘prejudice’ to Muslims in Australia and stressed on the need of ‘understanding’, ‘harmony’ and ‘cohesion’. However, in The Australian the National Islam also received the same treatment as did the Foreign Islam in terms of themes.

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