Enemies of freedom and defenders of democracy: The metaphorical response to terrorism

Abstract

This article examines the public speeches presented by George W. Bush and Jens Stoltenberg in the aftermath of, respectively, the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and 22 July 2011. By using a novel combination of cognitive linguistics and the strong programme in cultural sociology, I demonstrate how one metaphor system fundamentally shaped the speeches of both national leaders, a system I term The Fight for Freedom and Democracy. The article shows how this system can be seen as the source of both the similarities and differences in the speeches of Bush and Stoltenberg. Both leaders describe a metaphorical struggle between the national community and the terrorist(s), but Bush escalates this struggle to a War on Terror, while Stoltenberg’s only ‘weapons’ in this battle are democratic ideals. Building on these findings, the article discusses how the different discourses of good and evil might be an integral part of the responses to terrorism.