Discourse Analysis of Terrorism in Iraqi novels: A look at Frankenstein in Baghdad

Abstract

The present Paper aims to analyse terrorism discourse in the modern Iraqi novel titled Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi by using Norman Fairclough's critical discourse analysis theory. The research is divided into two chapters of five sections. 

The first chapter provides a brief description on "the concept of terrorism", "the concept of discourse" and "terrorism in Iraqi novels". The second chapter deals with an analysis of the practical words in Saadawi’s novel, exploring the role of terrorism discourse in selecting those words. This chapter also addresses the social dimension of terrorism discourse, suggesting that social phenomena results from discourses, especially the dominant one prevailing in the society, much like the terrorism discourse in Iraq society in the post-2003 era.

The research also deals with the behavior of power-holders who, in their struggle to sustain unequal relations of power, impose an impression of ideological common sense through background knowledge which is widely-accepted as true in the public opinion. In Saadawi’s view US troops did the same after 2003 in Iraq.

The novel’s analysis reveals the role of the dominant discourse, i.e., terrorism discourse, in the establishment of wrong and even dangerous social behaviors among the public, including the development of wrong beliefs, the exploitation of the situation to the detriment of innocent civilians and the trading of death.