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Article published In: Metaphor and the Social World
Vol. 14:2 (2024) ► pp.282–303

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“Biden’s Saigon”

A metaphor analysis of “Sputnik’s” coverage of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan

 | University of Georgia
ORCiD logo with link | University of Mississippi
 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln
 | University of Toronto
Published online: 9 September 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/msw.23026.pje
Abstract
This study examined the Russian state-sponsored outlet “Sputnik’s” metaphorical use in covering American withdrawal from Afghanistan to explain rhetorical devices used to disseminate discourse about Russia’s geo-political rival, the United States. Using the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP), the study analyzed 28 main metaphors and metaphorical expressions in “Sputnik’s” coverage during the week of the American pullout. Metaphors such as Biden’s Saigon, puppet government, or Night of the Long Knives suggest the existence of a discourse criticizing the rival and historicizing the event. The results are interpreted in light of using metaphors in the media’s conflict coverage.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1Metaphors and news media conflict coverage
    • 2.2Russian discourse on Afghanistan
  • 3.Materials and methods
    • 3.1Metaphor identification and sampling
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Criticism of the U.S. President Biden
    • 4.2Criticism of the US and Western Allies
    • 4.3Criticism of Afghanistan
    • 4.4The past and future of Afghanistan
  • 5.Discussion
  • Note
  • References
References (52)
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