Persuasive Political Power Employed by Premier Imran Khan to Deform Identity: A Political Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The researchers investigate Pakistani Premier Imran Khan’s (IK) speech in which he called Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – Sahiba. Similarly, the leaders strongly need to convince their supporters when they deliver speeches on public platforms. However, utilizing the persuasive political power, the Premier (IK) propagated identity to promote the specific ideology to gain political benefits. The present research employs Political Discourse Analysis (PDA), to understand the social and political persuasive style employed by the premiere. The researchers have analyzed the data employing a qualitative approach. There are reliable findings to suggest that IK has successfully used stable vocabulary (taboo) to persuade the specific supporters, convincing them to deform the identity of Bilawal Bhutto. Later, the Premier faced considerable criticism from the opposition. However, for the time being, he successfully dominated through sociological and persuasive power sourcing the meaning-making structures of power. Hence, the politicians often convince their supporters/followers to utilize political-strategic tools and to remain in their political procession against their opponents.