In this book David Block draws on analytical techniques from Critical Discourse Studies to critically investigate truth, truths, the propagation of ignorance and post-truth. Focusing on corrupt discourses and agnotology, he explores the role of anti-intellectualism, emotion and social media in the cultural creation, legitimisation and dissemination of ignorance. While encompassing analysis of discourses on Donald Trump, Brexit, climate change and the Alt-Right, Block furthers our understanding of this global phenomena by providing a revealing analysis of political communications relating to corruption scandals involving the Spanish conservative party. Through an innovative theoretical framework that combines critical discourse and discourse historical approaches with nuanced political analysis, he uncovers the rhetorical means by which esoteric truths and misleading narratives about corruption are created and demonstrates how they become, in their turn, corrupt discourses. This original work offers fresh insights for scholars of Discourse Analysis, Sociolinguistics, Politics, Cultural and Communication Studies, and will also appeal to general readers with an interest in political communication and Spanish politics.
David Block is ICREA Research Professor in Sociolinguistics at the University of Lleida, Spain. He has published on a variety of language-related topics, which he examines drawing on scholarship in Marxist political economy and sociology. His books include Social Class in Applied Linguistics (2014) and Political Economy and Sociolinguistics (2018).
David Block
corrupt discourses post-truth politics agnotology Critical Discourse Analysis Discourse Historical Approach Political discourse Ignorance Lying anti-intellectualism Political corruption Spanish politics Catalan politics Brexit Donald Trump Climate change
“The book appeals to anyone interested in post-truth, power, ideology, Spanish politics and discourse analysis. In a nutshell, deploying post-truth is more than a manipulative strategy by populists and the alt-right to deceive the populace.” (Cun Zhang and Zhengjun Lin, Journal of Language and Politics, Vol. 19 (3), 2020)
“David Block’s book takes a fascinating look at the notions of truth, truths and post-truth. It extends political discourse analysis into concepts of misrepresentation, misleadingness, ‘bullshit’ and the propagation of ignorance. The context of Trump and ‘fake news’ makes this original study very timely. Post-truth is identified as a relatively novel form of political discourse, an anything goes discursive practice similar to what Orwell referred to as doublespeak and constituting what Block identifies as corrupt discourses. The gloves-off, aggressive style constitutes, according to Block, a new kind of language warfare whose hard-hitting directness is enhanced through its use on social media. Drawing on Critical Discourse Studies methodology, Block provides an insightful analysis of corrupt discourses from the Spanish political party, Partido Popular. His claim is that the question of post-truth is indicative of the narrow scope of contemporary official politics and symptomatic of the turbulent times in which we live.” (Marnie Holborow, Dublin City University, Ireland)