Language, Diplomacy and Global Governance: Discourse Strategies in a Middle Eastern UN Address

Abstract

The article applies Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to King Abdullah II’s 2024 speech at the United Nations General Assembly, uncovering how he strategically employs humanitarian, legal, and geopolitical discourses to shape international perceptions of a conflict. Unlike previous research on Western political rhetoric, this study highlights how a Middle Eastern leader navigates global governance structures to construct political legitimacy, critique power asymmetries, and advocate for human rights. The findings reveal that King Abdullah integrates emotive language, statistical evidence, and legal references to frame the conflict as a global moral and legal crisis, moving beyond regional narratives. Additionally, the study identifies how historical intertextuality, including references to his father’s past UN addresses, strengthens Jordan’s diplomatic credibility and positions it as a principled advocate for peace. The analysis also highlights how the speech strikes a balance between critique and diplomacy, avoiding direct vilification while effectively critiquing the failures of international institutions. By framing the United Nations as ineffective in enforcing justice, King Abdullah aligns Jordan’s discourse with broader post-colonial resistance narratives, challenging dominance in global governance. This study contributes to CDA and political discourse analysis by offering a new framework for understanding how smaller states use language to challenge hegemonic structures and influence international diplomacy.