Portrayal of Islamic Fundamentalism in Pakistani Newspapers: A Critical Discourse Study

Abstract

Print media discourses mirror social reality related to a particular context and time. Most often, they serve as a distorting prism to construct and represent a desired version of reality. Discourse is language in use or language used for communicative purposes. It relates to social structures, practices, and social change. In Critical Discourse Analyses (CDA), the link between discourse and society/context is mediated. There is a dialectical relationship between discourse and ideology. Ideology is a system of ideas especially social, political, or religious views shared by a social group or movement. The study utilizes the mixed method approach that integrates the Fairclough three-dimensional model. This study aims to address the portrayal of Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistani newspapers. This research aims to fill an important gap. Not much research has been done before on the topic of this study. This study looks at the situation around the subject it is exploring. There has been little or no earlier work investigating the conditions relating to what this research is about. This study is important because of its ability to expand our knowledge. It can increase our understanding of how media narratives impact public views about Islamic Fundamentalism. By focusing on newspaper articles, the research strives to offer subtle insights into the discursive techniques used and their ramifications. The findings helped in identifying potential pivot points or conversely, in revealing entrenched discursive patterns that may act as hindrances in Islamic Fundamentalism. The analysis of the newspaper’s articles through CDA just note provides the interpretation of the linguistic patterns but also explores how language constructs reality, influences public behavior, and shape’s public opinion against prominent agendas. By critically analyzing the discourse surrounding this contentious issue, this research sheds light on the complex interplay between language, power, and ideology in shaping public perceptions and attitudes toward Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan.