Poliitilise vastutuse mõiste konstrueerimine meedias kolme poliitilise skandaali näitel
Date
2005
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Abstract
Description
This paper attempts to show how the meaning of the phrase “political accountability” is
constructed in Estonian media. Investigation of three political scandals shows what
context and discourse the phrase has acquired over the years. Signe Kivi, minister of
culture, minister of agriculture Tiit Tammsaar and minister of foreign affairs Kristiina
Ojuland were all mixed up in political scandals where they had to show that they are
“politically accountable” by leaving office. The phrase has been used differently in the
media throughout the scandals, but in the last two cases it has demanded that the
politician leave office.
The hypothesis is based on Philippe Bourdieu, who said that those who govern attempt to
construct social reality and define terms in a way that is profitable for them. The
hypothesis was proved by the way Signe Kivi and her fellow party-members defined
action for “political accountability” by stepping down from office. The same course of
action as a definition of “political accountability” has later been accepted as a norm by
other politicians when demanding or showing “political accountability”.
This paper looks for the use of the term “accountability” first quantitatively in two major
newspapers. To add context to the term, it searches for arguments for and against the
politician in question. Using Toulmin’s method for argumentative analysis it then tries to
show how context and a course of action was added to the phrase, how it was constructed
and how it has been used through the three scandals.
In the conclusions, the paper shows that a certain model has been created by Signe Kivi’s
actions by which all governing politicians are expected to leave office, if in their area
something goes wrong or missing. Also, the phrase is most often used by politicians
themselves, which also proves the hypothesis right. By receiving time in the media,
politicians can define the terms themselves, as they find is best in their interest.
Keywords
H Social Sciences (General), bakalaureusetööd