Abstract
Being perceived as consistent is a crucial concern for political actors' in their efforts to mobilize public opinion. This study comprises an analysis of the self-reflexive performance of consistency by Israeli politicians, focusing on the definitions and types of 'consistency' in political talk and their consequences. Through an analysis of 194 meta-discursive statements between 2006 and 2017, we illustrate that consistency constitutes a spatiotemporal coordination among cognitions, actions (words and deeds), and the external world, while also being viewed as potentially transforming political reality. Perceived as a sought-after value indicative of truth-telling, determination, and clarity, political actors view consistency as an essential character trait, associated with ideological fortitude, and a basis for practical policy realization.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 89-113 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | Language in Society |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Feb 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2019 Cambridge University Press.
Keywords
- Consistency
- ideology
- meta-discourse
- political discourse