“Biden’s Saigon”
A metaphor analysis of “Sputnik’s” coverage of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan
This study examined the Russian state-sponsored outlet “Sputnik’s” metaphorical use in covering American
withdrawal from Afghanistan to explain rhetorical devices used to disseminate discourse about Russia’s geo-political rival, the
United States. Using the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP), the study analyzed 28 main metaphors and metaphorical
expressions in “Sputnik’s” coverage during the week of the American pullout. Metaphors such as Biden’s Saigon, puppet
government, or Night of the Long Knives suggest the existence of a discourse criticizing the rival
and historicizing the event. The results are interpreted in light of using metaphors in the media’s conflict coverage.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Literature review
- 2.1Metaphors and news media conflict coverage
- 2.2Russian discourse on Afghanistan
- 3.Materials and methods
- 3.1Metaphor identification and sampling
- 4.Results
- 4.1Criticism of the U.S. President Biden
- 4.2Criticism of the US and Western Allies
- 4.3Criticism of Afghanistan
- 4.4The past and future of Afghanistan
- 5.Discussion
- Note
-
References