The Representation of the Arab Spring in the U.S. Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates how the Arab Spring was represented in U.S. print media, specifically in The New York Times and The Washington Post, through the lens of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). It explores how discursive strategies and linguistic devices used by journalists reflect ideological biases, particularly the persistence of Orientalist thought. The analysis identifies recurring themes such as the depiction of violence in the Arab world (negative other-representation), Islamophobia (Islam as a threat), and the assertion of Western superiority (positive self-representation). These patterns suggest that media coverage reinforces long- standing stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims, portraying them as irrational, violent, and culturally inferior. By contrast, the West—especially the United States—is constructed as rational, civilized, and morally superior. Drawing on CDA methodologies proposed by Teun A. van Dijk, Norman Fairclough, and Ruth Wodak, the study argues that such representations are not neutral but are ideologically driven and aligned with U.S. foreign policy interests. The findings reveal how news discourse constructs and legitimizes unequal power relations and contributes to the production of in-group (West) versus out-group (Arabs/Muslims) identities. Ultimately, the paper calls for ethical journalism that fosters intercultural dialogue and challenges biased media practices.