Deciphering the Ideology of Peace in Queen Rania's Speech: A Political and Critical Discourse Analysis

This research paper investigates the ideology of peace in Queen Rania’s speech on interfaith dialogue and social cohesion through a political and critical discourse analysis approach. The study aims to identify the semantic devices employed in the speech and assess their effectiveness in conveying Queen Rania’s message, with a focus on her February 2023 speech in Washington. A qualitative research approach adopted in this study, focusing on the analysis of linguistic features, rhetorical devices, and ideological implications of the speech. Drawing on established methods of political and critical discourse analysis, the data collection and analysis process involves examining the speech’s transcript for lexical choices, syntactic structures, rhetorical devices, and underlying ideologies encoded in the speech. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the semantic devices used in Queen Rania’s speech, including metaphors, rhetorical questions, repetition, tone and style, narrative structure, intertextuality and cultural references, and the use of ethos, pathos, and logos. The findings revealed that these devices are effective in engaging the audience, evoking vivid imagery, challenging assumptions, and establishing empathy and shared experiences. The study also found that the semantic aspects, including lexical choices and repetitions, were constructed to depict a positive portrayal of Islam, counter the polarization narrative, and promote the idea of transcending beyond polarization and racism that exists in society today. Furthermore, the speech’s content and context are found to be relevant to contemporary socio-political issues such as globalization, migration, and the impact of social media on polarization. Queen Rania’s call for unity, understanding, and the embracing of shared values highlights the importance of her message in today’s increasingly divided world.