Aristotelian Rhetoric in Prabowo Subianto’s 2025 United Nations General Assembly Speech on Palestinian Sovereignty
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62569/fijc.v3i3.293Keywords:
Aristotelian Rhetoric, Ethos, Pathos, Logos, Political CommunicationAbstract
Political speeches delivered at international forums serve as important instruments for articulating national positions, communicating diplomatic messages, and advocating responses to global issues. Prabowo Subianto’s speech at the 2025 United Nations General Assembly addressed Palestinian sovereignty, humanitarian concerns, international law, and the pursuit of global peace. This study examines the use of Aristotelian rhetoric in the speech, focusing on the three persuasive appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos. It employs a qualitative approach through library research and descriptive-analytical content analysis. The analysis draws on documented excerpts from the speech and relevant scholarly literature, using Aristotle’s rhetorical framework to identify and interpret the persuasive elements in the discourse. The findings indicate that ethos is constructed through expressions of respect toward the international assembly and references to Indonesia’s commitment to peace and opposition to colonialism. Pathos emerges through emotional appeals concerning the suffering of Palestinian civilians, particularly women, children, and elderly people, reinforced by the speaker’s emphatic delivery and gestures. Logos is reflected in arguments concerning international conflicts, humanitarian conditions, and the importance of upholding international law. These three rhetorical appeals operate as complementary elements in constructing a diplomatic message that combines credibility, emotional appeal, and rational argumentation. This study contributes to the analysis of political and diplomatic communication by demonstrating how Aristotelian rhetoric can be applied to examine persuasive discourse in contemporary international forums.
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