Ideas have consequences: The rhetoric of neoconservatism in the United States.

摘要

Some of the staunchest supporters of the U.S. invasion of Iraq include followers of an ideology known as "neoconservatism." Although this ideology is frequently discussed in contemporary media, neoconservatism actually has a history predating the Vietnam era. This thesis is an exploration of the presence of neoconservative ideology in public discourse. Using ideological criticism, I examine "Rebuilding America's Defenses," a think tank report published by the Project for a New American Century; President George W. Bush's Second Inaugural Address; and six months of articles written by William Kristol, co-editor of The Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine. In each artifact, I investigate the instances in which neoconservative ideology is manifest and the rhetorical strategies used to encourage audiences to support this ideology. This study provides insight into the ways in which neoconservatism is present in public discourse and how rhetors invite support of the themes of this ideology.