Metaphors we overthrow with: a critical metaphor analysis of Nigerian military leaders' post-coup proclamations.

How do military leaders who overthrow governments through coups create legitimacy for their new regime? A limited research response has been provided to this question, especially from a discursive perspective. To fill this gap, this study examines the discursive strategies employed by Nigerian milit...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Critical Discourse Studies Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 493 - 512
Autores principales: Chigbu, Godswill Uchechukwu, Ukwunna, Richard Chijioke, Aboh, Sopuruchi Christian
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Sep2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=196237752&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: hlh
    uiTerm: 196237752
    longDbName: Humanities International Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        17405904
        RF5
      jtl: Critical Discourse Studies
      issn: 17405904
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Sep2026
      vid: 23
      iid: 5
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
    artinfo:
      ui:
        196237752
        10.1080/17405904.2025.2463638
      ppf: 493
      ppct: 19
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
              size: 455KB
      tig:
        atl: Metaphors we overthrow with: a critical metaphor analysis of Nigerian military leaders' post-coup proclamations.
      aug:
        au:
          Chigbu, Godswill Uchechukwu
          Ukwunna, Richard Chijioke
          Aboh, Sopuruchi Christian
        affil:
          Department of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, HKSAR
          Department of English Language and Literature, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Nigeria
      su:
        Coups d'état
        Metaphor
        African politics & government
        Regime change
        Legitimacy of governments
        Narration
        Political communication
      sug:
        subj:
          Coups d'état
          Metaphor
          African politics & government
          Regime change
          Legitimacy of governments
          Narration
          Political communication
      keyword:
        Coup
        critical metaphor analysis
        legitimacy
        military
        politics
      ab: How do military leaders who overthrow governments through coups create legitimacy for their new regime? A limited research response has been provided to this question, especially from a discursive perspective. To fill this gap, this study examines the discursive strategies employed by Nigerian military leaders in justifying coups through a critical metaphor analysis of their post-coup proclamations. The study analyzed 13 post-coup proclamations from nine Nigerian coups between 1966 and 1999. Three dominant metaphors were identified: JOURNEY, BUILDING and WAR. Findings indicate that metaphors strategically framed conflicting representations of prior/new regimes to justify coups and establish initial legitimacy for military rule. By examining metaphors in coup discourse, the study contributes to political communication by providing insights into coup legitimation tactics and the discursive construction of coup crisis narratives in an African political context.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: Y
      custom: Copyright of Critical Discourse Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
      item: Critical Discourse Studies
      holder: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      dt:
        @attributes:
          year: 2026
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N