Retzlaff (2008) Constructing the European Union in Canadian News

Constructing the European Union in Canadian News

Steffi Retzlaff, Mc Master University
Stefan Gänzle, University of British Columbia

Abstract

This paper analyses the representation of the EU in Canadian print media focusing in particular on the EU's 50th anniversary in March 2007. Assuming that the ways by which the European Union (EU) is being construed by the world media co-determines the EU's role and, probably, its effectiveness as an international actor, we apply this hypothesis to the case of Canada. By utilising Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as our methodological tool, this paper analyses the reception and representation of the EU in Canadian print media, and further unveils the discursive strategies employed by different media outlets.

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