Words of Security: A Discourse Analysis of Post-9/11 Rhetoric in the Contemporary American Media

The events of September 11 had a significant impact not only on American society but also on the narratives of security in American media. The main objective of the study was to examine the following: 1) How did September 11 change the security discourse in US media? 2) How is 9/11 narrative being used in the modern context of security? The primary theoretical framework of the research is constructivism, while the main method employed in the research is a prominent discourse analysis. In the course of the research 200 media news articles, editorials and opinion letters were analyzed. The media pieces were chosen from 10 major US journals, magazines and newspapers. Prior to the discourse analysis, approaches to the media and development of discourse around 9/11 were covered to provide a comprehensive background of Sept.11 attacks in a holistic way. As a result of the research, the hypothesis was confirmed: the events of September 11 acquired a symbolic significance and serve as a multifaceted platform wherein historical events are invoked to substantiate and contextualize specific national and foreign policy decisions related to security controls. It was also found that 9/11 is actively referenced in American media within the context of contemporary political campaigns and US foreign policies.