The space between Aristotle and the Bush administration: Considering the impact of "goodwill" on international relations

<p>Focusing on the Bush Administration’s post-September 11 rhetoric, this thesis investigates the impact this rhetoric had on the Administration’s perceived credibility by the international community with specific focus on Germany’s, France’s, and Great Britain’s reactions. Of particular interest is the importance of eunoia (goodwill) as an aspect of the speaker’s ethos. Considering that goodwill has been viewed as the lost dimension of Aristotle’s ethos (credibility) this analysis provides the basis to argue that goodwill should be treated as a major component of ethos.<strong></strong></p> <p>A textual analysis of rhetorical acts as well as media reactions sheds light on the role goodwill played in the Bush Administration’s credibility post-September 11 as perceived by the international audience. The findings of this thesis indicate that the failure to establish effective goodwill messages has negatively impacted the Bush Administration’s credibility as perceived by the audience, supporting the importance of goodwill on ethos.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication, Media and Theatre Arts

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Wolbert, Anke Thorey

Contributors dc:contributor

• Raymond Quiel, Chair
• Michael Tew, PhD
• Doris Fields, PhD

• Aristotle. Rhetoric
• Bush
• George W. (George Walker)
• 1946- Ethics
• 1946- Influence
• Rhetoric Political aspects
• Communication in politics United States
• Rhetoric

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/187

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1186