Divisive Discourse: The Extreme Rhetoric of Contemporary American Politics challenges assumptions about political ideology. The book examines the techniques and contents of the divisive discourse that pervades contemporary American political conversation. It teaches us about extreme rhetoric, thus enabling readers to be more critical consumers of information. The book provides a framework for identifying and interpreting extreme language. Readers learn about rhetorical fallacies and the strategies used by political pundits to manipulate and spin information. In subsequent chapters the author examines and analyzes how divisive discourse is used in discussions of specific political issues including homosexual rights, gun control, healthcare, and issues in the 2016 presidential election. New chapters explore the rhetoric of race and the divisive discourse in foreign policy. Divisive Discourse provides insight into how polarizing rhetoric leads to societal fragmentation, and how it fosters apathy, confusion, animosity, and ignorance. By exposing the rhetoric of division and teaching readers how to confront it, the book reinvigorates the potential to participate in politics and serves as a guide for how to have civil discussions about controversial issues. Divisive Discourse is an ideal teaching tool for anyone interested in contemporary issues and courses in political science, media studies, argument, or rhetoric.

""Divisive Discourse" challenges assumptions about political ideology. The book examines the techniques and contents of the divisive discourse that pervades contemporary American political conversation. It teaches us about extreme rhetoric, thus enabling readers to be more critical consumers of information. The book provides a framework for identifying and interpreting extreme language. Readers learn about rhetorical fallacies and the strategies used by political pundits to manipulate and spin information. In subsequent chapters the author examines and analyzes how divisive discourse is used in discussions of specific political issues including homosexual rights, gun control, and healthcare. "Divisive Discourse" provides insight into how divisive discourse leads to societal fragmentation, and fosters apathy, confusion, animosity, and ignorance. By exposing the rhetoric of division and teaching readers how to confront it, the book reinvigorates the potential to participate in politics and serves as a guide for how to have civil discussions about controversial issues. "Divisive Discourse" is an ideal teaching tool for anyone interested in contemporary issues and courses in political science, media studies, or rhetoric. Joseph Zompetti (Ph.D., Wayne State University) is professor of communication at Illinois State University where he teaches courses in communication and social issues, classical rhetoric, and political communication. Dr. Zompetti's research interests include the rhetoric of critical cultural studies and the rhetoric of civic engagement. His work has appeared in "Theory and Critique, The Journal of Promotion Management, and Argumentation: An International Journal of Reasoning." He is the author of "Essential Readings on Rhetoric" and (with J.R. Blaney) "The Rhetoric of Pope John Paul II.""

This edited collection examines the intersections of social control, political authority and public policy, providing an insight into the key elements needed to understand the role of governance in establishing and maintaining social control through law and public policy making.

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION FOR EVERYDAY LIFE Face the global challenges of the future with this accessible introduction to communication across boundaries Communication between cultures can be challenging in a number of ways, but it also carries immense potential rewards. In an increasingly connected world, it has never been more important to communicate across a range of differences created by history and circumstance. Contributing to global communities and rising to meet crucial shared challenges—human rights disputes, refugee crises, the international climate crisis—depends, in the first instance, on a sound communicative foundation. Intercultural Communication for Everyday Life provides a thorough introduction to this vital subject for students encountering it for the first time. Built around a robust and multifaceted definition of culture, which goes far beyond simple delineation of national boundaries, it offers an understanding of its subject that transcends US-centricity. The result, updated to reflect dramatic ongoing changes to the interconnected world, is essential for students of cross-cultural communication and exchange. Readers of the second edition of Intercultural Communication for Everyday Life readers will also find: Accessible definitions of core concepts Revised and updated chapters reflecting the COVID-19 crisis, climate change challenges, and more An all-new chapter on social media as a tool for intercultural communication Intercultural Communication for Everyday Life is essential for students and other readers seeking a foundational overview of this subject.

Pedagogies of Post-Truth explores the national and international political developments in what has been called a post-truth society; specifically, in which conservative groups target media outlets claiming fabrication of news and that the veracity of evidence-based reporting should be questioned. Truth has been reduced to the validation of opinions instead of the presentation of scientific facts. This collection responds to these issues by initiating a scholarly dialogue about teaching in the era of post-truth in which research-based findings that do not align with political viewpoints are judged, criticized, and often described as “fake.” Contributors evaluate the pedagogical challenges of post-truth discourse and how post-truth messages negatively affect instructors and students. By highlighting ways instructors and students can resist the hegemony of post-truth, this book creates a dialogue among scholars, illustrates the challenges, and offers pedagogical techniques to discuss “post-truth,” the role of the educator, the role of media, and the role of other story-makers of our society.

Democratic Disunity: Rhetorical Tribalism in 2020 addresses that while attention has recently and rightly been paid to the tribal bifurcation of the GOP, the Democratic Party is similarly divided. Americans live in a democratic republic rather than a direct democracy and choices regarding governing concerns are configured through communicative action. These choices include those made between and within American political parties. Without rhetorical mediation and intervention, toxic partisan tribalism within the two major American political parties is likely to destabilize the nations’ federalist system of government. Kelley argues that intraparty tribalism poisons public life and consumes public space within which electoral politics, including discussion, deliberation and compromise, should be thriving. Democratic Disunity considers intraparty tribalism as a rhetorical form, uniquely positioned within the twenty-first century. Details are provided regarding language-in-use strategies with which to anchor a rhetoric of governing through a mindful, deliberative dialogue which diminishes the effect of political partisanship, including its toxic variations both between and within American political parties. Scholars and students of rhetoric, political communication, and political science will find this book particularly interesting.

A Rhetoric of Divisive Partisanship: The 2016 American Presidential Campaign Discourse of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump examines the campaign speeches of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump as they targeted members of the American public that were ideologically different but equally emotionally vulnerable. Each appealed to marginalized segments of the electorate, groups at opposite ends of the political spectrum, joined through a shared distrust and fear of politics instead of political or even party affiliation. Both Sanders and Trump polarized and reinforced their respective bases as “outsiders.” Both relied on anti-establishment arguments and discussions grounded in personal attacks against “enemies” during which they joined their target audiences as marginalized outsiders united through a desire to overthrow the status quo and re-claim America. The book expands on previous ideas about dialogue and political talk and asserts that rather than serving as a model of civic and civil discourse, the rhetoric of Sanders and Trump was reactionary and divisive, begun with different intentions and producing different results.