The “Foreign Puppet” Narrative: Rhetorical Strategies, National Identity, and the Risk of Identity-Based Political Polarization

Abstract

This study is motivated by the phenomenon of the use of the “foreign stooge” narrative in Prabowo Subianto’s political communication, which reflects the symbolic construction of the “us” and “them” groups. This study employs a qualitative approach using Fairclough’s model of Critical Discourse Analysis. Data were collected from political speeches, media statements, and digital content containing the “foreign stooge” narrative. The analysis was conducted in three stages: (1) textual analysis to identify linguistic strategies and rhetorical patterns; (2) discourse practice analysis to trace the context of message production and dissemination; and (3) social practice analysis to uncover the relationships between language, ideology, and power that shape political meaning within the discourse.