With the end of the cold war, the concept of “Discourse Analysis” is very important. It is because of two may reason the first one is, failure of realism theory by liberalism theory and discourse of the world has been changed. Social constructivism can fill the vacuum which occurred due to the failure of two important theories. With time a new discourse develops between the states is nationalism and national identity. The concept of nationalism is too old but in the 21st century, that concept has been changed due to changing temperaments of states. Everything is socially constructed and critical studies are further sophisticated through the new transform that is discourse from the bourgeois class. In this world, the narrative is formed and dissolved through discourse. As Foucault said, discourse of knowing is produced objectively by identities and subjects, and identities are designed through speaking[i].
Ontology of discourse (what is in the nation) gives a wide spectrum to analyse the that is the state is the only actor to shape the narrative for any objective or other non-state actors may also involve. On another hand, epistemology( how we study the discourse) gives empirical knowledge about the historical dynamic of time and place to shape any narrative. In 1943, Maslow gives a theory, “a theory of Human Motivation”, according to that theory narrative only shape when his five-level fulfilled. (1) physiological needs (2) safety needs (3) love and belonging needs (4) Esteem needs and (5) self-actualization. These levels are necessary for the mind mapping of any discourse[ii].
As Michel Foucault said, a linguistics network that decrees statements and concepts. Similarly, Greenwood said (2004:239), Cognition is authorized toward other persons and social groups[iii]. So discourse analysis is basically about studying and analysing the different uses of language. There are three types of discourse analysis. Firstly, formal linguistic analysis(social behaviour). Secondly, Empirical discourse analysis (analysis through conversation) and lastly, Critical discourse analysis (functional or operational analysis)[iv]. These levels are used to manipulate any narrative for any objective cause.
Manipulation of narrative in the shade for Post-Structuralism
Post-Structuralism came to be part of international relations in the 1980s. When the cold war was near the end and new forms of warlike doctrine warfare, ideological warfare and narrative construction warfare fill the vacuum of the cold war. According to Poststructuralists, every state has their specific way of understanding the political community. Similarly, if anarchy in the international system, according to the states and other actors of the state reproduces this system it’s not because of nature. The system is manipulated through discourse by using specific language (Political language). Poststructuralism doesn’t mean anti-structural, it is a philosophical stance formulated out of structuralism……, a position which in many ways shares more with structuralism than with its antagonists. (Waver 2002: 23). Poststructuralism has its directions in art, architecture, and literature. (Campbe11 2007: 211-12). Connections among the words have their influence on history. On 29 January 2002, when George W Bush first time uses the word “axis of evil” it threatened the western world, this actual an extreme difference between the USA and the axis of evil states that was Iraq, Iran and North Korea[v].
The construction of narrative is highly dependent on discourse. We formed our feelings by gigantic our enemy. As Huntington said, “religious ideologies are threat after the cold war”. In this way, if you counter your enemy then you should need to take all those measures which are according to our desire. As history said, the US invade Iraq by claiming that Saddam Hussein is a threat. Similarly, the US invaded Afghanistan with the support of Pakistan to dissolve terrorism and free the world from terrorism.
Taliban and freedom fighters of Kashmir
Everything in the universe is not permanent. Similarly, world dynamics also have been changed means the US withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years with approximately two trillion dollars lost (Qazi, 2011). The question has been raised, Is the Taliban a freedom fighter or not? Yes, the Taliban are freedom fighters because they fight for their territory. They fight for freedom from American slavery. As Antonio Giustozzi said, “almost everybody can be seen as a freedom fighter by somebody, incredibly when freedom is interpreted negatively as freedom form”. On the other hand, Viet Cong and distinct freedom fighters fight a war for the liberation of the nation and hence were considered freedom fighters[vi].
In the case of Pakistan, TTP was formed to form political laws according to Islamic values. “Democracy is secular, therefore anti-Islam. We will renovate it with an Islamic one that assures collective good” ( Haqqani, 2013). Similarly, “we do not have faith in democracy, it only for those who are in power like the US, but it is Kufr for us” (Mehsud, 2012)[vii].
Late Syed Ali Geelani, who fought for Kashmir freedom, had the main statement “We are Pakistani and Pakistan is ours”. On another hand, the BJP government removed the special status of Kashmir by violating articles 370 and 35A, on August 5, 2019. This day will be remembered throughout history because the BJP government turn the Kashmir Valley into a prison cell[viii]. On the flip side, former Chief Minister of J&K, Mehbooba Mufti, said during addressing a rally held in Kulgam valley, “it needs the stamina to face what the people of J&K are facing. The day they run out of tolerance, you (BJP government) will be ruined. Do not test our tolerance. Look at what is happening in Afghanistan. The Taliban forced the powerful US battalion to leave the country[ix].”
Conclusion
Finally, I conclude with the following statement, Taliban and freedom fighters are the same which has been proved through poststructuralism and discourse. Discourse is used to shape the narrative and poststructuralism provide it with a legal language through a linguistic strategy like political and social means.
Reference
[i] Baylis, J., & Smith, S. (2020). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford University Press.
[ii] MasterClass staff, ‘A Guide to the 5 Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs,Nov 8, 2020.
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-the-5-levels-of-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs#what-are-the-5-levels-of-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs
[iii]Baylis, J., & Smith, S. (2020). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford University Press.
[iv] Hodges, Brian David, Ayelet Kuper, and Scott Reeves. “Discourse analysis.” Bmj 337 (2008)
[v] By David E. Sanger, THE STATE OF THE UNION: THE OVERVIEW; BUSH, FOCUSING ON TERRORISM, SAYS SECURE U.S. IS TOP PRIORITY. The new yark times, January 30,2002.
[vi] Mustafa Qadri, Taliban: terrorists or freedom fighters?. ABC news, Posted Thu 3 Jun 2010 at 11:00amThursday 3 Jun 2010 at 11:00am, updated Thu 6 Feb 2020 at 3:01am
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-06-03/34792
[vii] Tahir, Zahid Mehmood Zahid1 Khuram Iqbal, and Abbas Sial. “Critical Discourse Analysis of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan: An Intertextual Recontextualization.” (2020).
[viii] Tamoghna Halder, ‘Kashmir’s struggle did not start in 1947 and will not end today, Al Jazeera, 15 Aug 2019
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2019/8/15/kashmirs-struggle-did-not-start-in-1947-and-will-not-end-today
[ix] Ashraf Wani,’ Look at Afghanistan: Mehbooba Mufti warns Centre, asks for restoration of Article 370, India Today, 21 Aug 2021.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/look-at-afghanistan-mehbooba-mufti-warns-centre-asks-for-restoration-of-article-370-1843792-2021-08-21
