INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Regarded as a social phenomenon, the study of language in use helps discover many interests such as ideologies or power behind the language Recently, critical discourse analysis (henceforth CDA) has become very popular among linguists because of its purposes That is, the study of CDA is to find out the relationship between ideologies, power and language, and in turn to reveal ideologies and power hidden behind the discourse For that reason, I decide to apply CDA in my minor thesis
In addition, as a learner of language but having a great interest in politics, I choose one political speech named “Obama‟s address on Cuba détente policy to analyze I make my mind up to vote for this speech because of several reasons First, with more than 2,000 words, it becomes a proper choice for a study of 10,000 words Second, it is an official speech which is delivered by a high-ranking politician (President Obama)
Finally, the most important reason, I want to see what Obama‟s ideologies are constructed and how they are manifested linguistically in his speech.
Scope of the study
In this study, I employ written aspects of the speech, but with the absence of spoken one despite my awareness of such an importance in comprehending the overall message Yet, with more than 20,000 words in the text, I think it is enough for a minor thesis to meet its requirements For such a reason, I put my emphasis on basic features such as vocabulary, grammar or textual ones to reveal hidden messages behind the discourse.
Purposes of the study
Purposes of the study are to uncover the relationship between language, ideologies and power hidden behind the speech and to reveal how the ideologies are manifested linguistically and constructed in the discourse In order to reach these purposes, I answer the two research questions as following:
1) What are Obama‟s themes as constructed in his speech?
2) How are the themes manifested linguistically?
Empirical Data
The empirical data used in the paper comes from the website (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/newtop100speeches.htm)
In particular, the data is a speech, which was delivered on December 17th, 2014 at Cabinet room, the White House and it is considered as a sudden, shocking and historic event The purpose of the speech is to restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba, ending the 54 -year - deep -freeze relation between the two nations The seeds of change were planted after Obama‟s 2012 reelection, when he huddled with advisers and asked them to „think big‟ about the second term agenda, including the possibilities of new starts with longstanding U.S foes such as Iran and Cuba Then the speech was the result of 18 months of hush-hush talks between the two nations, including secret meetings in Canada and the personal involvement of Pope Francis Such a condition helps create an important pave to divulge ideologies hidden behind the speech.
Design of the study
This study consists of three main parts They are:
It includes the rationale, the scope of the study, the aims of the study, data collecting and sampling, and the design of the study.
DEVELOPMENT
Literature Review
CDA is a domain of critical applied linguistics The 1970s saw the emergence of CDA
Its development was credited with prominent works including Kress and Hodge (1979), Fowler et al (1979), van Dijk (1985), Fairclough (1989) and Wodak (1989)
In particular, Fowler et al (1979-1996) made an important contribution to ascertain the early foundations of Critical Linguistics Then, from 1989 to 1999, Fairclough set out the social theories underpinning CDA as well as explained and elaborated on some advances in CDA, showing not only how the analytical framework for investigating language in relation to power and ideology developed, but also how CDA is useful in disclosing the discursive nature of much contemporary social and cultural change
After that, van Dijk worked in text linguistics and discourse analysis, and considered the relevance of discourse to the study of language processing Also, he focused on developing a theoretical model that explained cognitive discourse processing mechanisms These famous linguists built up main assumptions, principles and procedures of what became Critical Linguistics By 1990s, it came into existence with this particular approach to linguistic analysis, showing how CDA was, by that time, emerging as a distinctive theory of language, a radical different kind of linguistics
Noticeably, most studies of these famous linguists are drawn on Hallidayan systemic functional grammar This indicates that an understanding of the basic claims of Halliday‟s grammar and his approach to linguistic analysis is essential for an adequate understanding of CDA
Concepts relating to „critical‟, „ideology‟, „power‟ and „discourse‟ are discussed as deeply as possible to make a proper understanding of CDA However, before talking about these elements, we should talk about CDA definition and its goals
The notion of Critical Discourse Analysis is the principal issue for those who wish to research such an area It stays dissimilar among different scholars such as van Dijk
(1998), Rebecca Roger (2004), Gilbert Weiss and Ruth Wodak (2003), Norman Fairclough (2001) or Theo Van Leuuwen (1993) However, I only mention some basic and famous definitions As stated by van Dijk (1998), CDA investigates the way „social power abuse, dominance and inequality which are enacted, reproduced and resisted by text and talk in the social and political context‟ Quite different from van Dijk, Norman Fairclough (2001) holds his attitude that CDA is considered as ideological analysis For the above opinions, CDA can be seen as an interdisciplinary approach to the study of discourse that views language as a social practice and its targets are to uncover hidden power and ideology behind discourses
The main purpose of CDA as cited by (Litosseliti, 2006), is to understand social issues, inequalities, and ideologies, by exposing the subtle role of discourse in maintaining them Also, it is to develop more effective means against persecution in society (Rathzel, in Wodak, 1997) Toward deconstructing and reconstructing images of the other still represents other target of CDA (Rathzel in Wodak, 1997) (Schaffner, 1996) suggests that what CDA should act is to describe and explain, and if necessary criticize social and discursive practices, based on solid research
The notion of „critical‟ which is inherent in CDA‟s program is also understood very differently For general understanding, as suggested by Oxford Dictionary, „critical‟ is to be understood as a way of thinking about and examining culture and literature by considering the social, historical and ideological forces The opinion of Wodak and Meyer (2002) is relatively different that „critical‟ is something keeping distance to the data, embedding the data in the social, taking a political stance explicitly and a concentration on self-reflection as scholars doing research With Corson (2000) (in Roger 2004), he holds his opinion about „critical‟ that it is often associated with researches in power relations By means of „critical‟ , linguists find it easier to uncover power inequalities hidden in discourses and wider social and cultural formations
Overall, it is believed that „critical‟ is something qualitative and a sharp tool to reveal ideologies and power behind the discourse
„Ideology‟ for CDA, is seen as an important aspect of establishing and maintaining unequal power relations Thompson (1990) holds his opinion about the study of
„ideology‟ „the ways in which meaning is constructed and conveyed by symbolic forms of various kinds‟ It also discovers the social contexts within which symbolic forms are employed and deployed For Simpson (1993), „ideology‟ is created by a combination of cultural assumptions, political beliefs and institutional practices According to Eagleton
(1994), the study of „ideology‟ has to consider the variety of theories and theorists that have examined the relation between thought and social reality Despite different concepts of „ideology‟, its main functions according to van Dijk are to self-represent the group or the membership and identification of its members, to organize their social practices or struggles, and to promote the interests of the group and its members with respect to other groups
Wodak and Meyer consider „power‟ as relations about difference, and especially about the influences of differences in social structures They also mention that „power‟ does not derive from language, yet in the service of language, „power‟ is challenged, subverted and altered distributions of power in the short and long term From the point of view of Teun van Dijk (1998), „power‟ is defined in the light of control When one group or individual is likely to more or less control the acts and minds of other groups or individuals, they can have more or less power „Power‟ in CDA often is seen as ideological power which is exercised in discourse, and the power to project one‟s practices, beliefs and perspectives as universal, „common sense‟ or „right and just‟
„Power‟ in CDA is signaled not only by grammatical forms within a text, but also by a person‟s control of a social occasion by means of the genre of a text It is often exactly within the genres related to given social occasions that power is exercised or challenged
In this session, I will start to discuss „discourse‟ in CDA as „discourse as a social practice Then I mention to some types of discourse and focus on „political discourse‟ because it relates to the study
In CDA, „discourse‟ is considered as a social practice By using „a social practice‟,
Fairclough implies that language is a part of society, and not somehow external to it, a social process and a socially conditioned process, conditioned that is by other (non- linguistic) parts of society In turn, „discourse‟ involves social conditions, which can be specified as social conditions of production, and social conditions of interpretation
These social conditions also relate to three different „level‟ of social organization including the level of the social situation, or the immediate social environment in which the discourse occurs, the level of the social institution which constitutes a wider matrix of the discourse and the level of the society as a whole
Social conditions of production Process of production
Text Process of interpretation Interaction
Social conditions of interpretation Context
Table 1 : Discourse as text, interaction and context
Norman Fairclough (2001) categorizes discourse into two major aspects including power in discourse and power behind discourse Power in discourse is associated with discourse in which relations of power are actually exercised and enacted In other words, discourse is the site of power struggles Through power in discourse, analysts can reveal the control of powerful participants and the constraint the contribution of non-powerful participants The later aspect is about power behind discourse which represents the stake in power struggles – for control over orders of discourse is a powerful mechanism for sustaining power
Methodology
As mentioned in the previous part (Empirical Data), the data for this CDA is empirical In particular, I employ one political speech called “Obama‟s address on Cuba détente policy” which is taken from the website (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/newtop100speeches.htm)
CDA is to find out the relationship between language, ideologies and power; in turn, reveal ideologies and power hidden behind the discourse Therefore, I want to employ CDA to see how the relation between ideologies and language are manifested linguistically in Obama‟s speech, and what his ideologies are constructed
In addition, CDA in all of its various forms understands itself to be strongly based on theory And there is a wide variety of theories which are applied in analyzing CDA; however, I employ Fairclough‟s analytical framework because it is seen as the most linguistic Also, in his work, Fairclough used Halliday‟s systemic functional grammar to analysis; therefore, I will focus on three-dimensional approach of Fairclough and several key points relating to Halliday‟s systemic functional linguistics below
In his approach, Fairclough recommends three different stages which are description, interpretation and explanation as well
At this step, features including vocabulary, grammar and textual structure are all mentioned in order to reveal hidden meanings, embedded messages and speaker‟s ideologies For such reasons, a number of questions are listed below:
1 What experiential values do words have?
2 What relational values do words have?
3 What expressive values do words have?
5 What experiential values do grammatical features have?
6 What relational values do grammatical features have?
7 What expressive values do grammatical feature have?
8 How are sentences linked together?
9 What interactional conventions are used?
10 What larger-scale structures does the text have?
Interpretation step copes with discourse processed and their dependence on background assumptions It is generated through what is in the text and what is „in‟ the interpreter
This stage is summarized through the figure as follow:
Interpretative procedures (MR) Resources Interpreting
Interactional history Inter-textual context
Phonology, grammar, Surface of utterance vocabulary
Semantics, Meaning of utterance pragmatics
Schemata Text structure and „point‟
The objective of the third stage- explanation- is to portray a discourse as part of a social process, as social practice, presenting how it is determined by social structures, and what reproductive effects discourses can cumulatively have on those structures, sustaining them or changing them Norman Fairclough shows three questions in common in order to be applied in certain discourse analysis
1 Social determinants: What power relations at situational, institutional, and societal level help shape this discourse?
2 Ideologies: What elements of MR which are drawn upon have an ideological character?
3 Effect: How is this discourse positioned in relation to struggles at the situational, institutional, and societal levels? Are the struggles overt or over? Is the discourse formative with respect to MR or creative? Does it contribute to sustaining existing power relations or transforming them?
This kind of linguistic system is of great importance for CDA analysts Halliday distinguished three meta-functions of language which are continuously interconnected: they are the ideational function through which language lends structure to experience, the interpersonal function which constitutes relationships between the participants, and the textual function which constitutes coherence and cohesion in texts In my paper, I utilize two functions including ideational and textual functions These two functions are realized at the lexico-grammar level by choices in the transitivity and thematic system of the language, and the unit of this level is clause
This system is defined as the world of experience into a manageable set of process types Normally, a process type contains three components such as the process itself, participants in the process and circumstance associated with the process Transitivity provides the potential to group the infinite variety of occurrences into a finite set of process types They are material, mental, relational, behavioral, verbal, existential process This frame of reference is useful when we interpret experience of what goes on
Thematic system answers the question „how is the content of the text organized?‟ and it is realized the ordering of „theme and rheme‟ in a clause Halliday (1994) states that the theme is the starting-point for the message, the ground from which the clause is taking off; and the theme is divided into simple and multiple theme The theme extends from the beginning of the clause up to the first element that has function in transitivity; and it is named topical theme If there are other things coming before the topical theme, multiple themes will appear Vice versa, in case there is nothing before the topical theme, it stays single Components of a multiple theme can be summarized as below according to Bloor, T and Bloor, M (1995)
Meta-function Component of theme
Structural Conjunctive Interpersonal theme Vocative
Modal Finite Wh-interogative Experiential theme Topical (participant, circumstance, process)
Table 3 : Components of a multiple theme
It also should be distinguished between marked and unmarked themes The first notion can be defined that a theme which is other than the subject, in a declarative clause while the later one is often found in adverbial groups, prepositions or nominalization It is placed where the subject is the starting point of the clause
In this chapter, I have argued on the one hand that CDA theories are reviewed and discussed, and on the other hand that the analytical framework by Norman Fairclough is mentioned in detail They are considered as a useful and major tool in analyzing Obama‟s speech which is presented next part – the most important part of the study.
CONCLUSION
Summary and conclusion
By using content analysis, Obama‟s themes, which are hidden behind the speech, are revealed They are: the topic of the speech- announce for changes; background of the past policy; need for changes; difficulties; solutions, and acknowledgment
By means of the theoretical framework, the analysis has obviously revealed the tie between ideology, power and language of the speech The speaker has made full use of linguistic strategies to embed his ideologies and his power at some extent to express, persuade, appeal and at the same time assert his power in such an important policy
In term of vocabulary, the speaker has a tendency to employ positive words and word phrases concerning the relationship with his partner, proving his awareness of the effectiveness of word use Also, metaphor is put into the speech so as to rebuild a better relation bringing mutual benefits By means of beautiful word use, figure of speech, the speaker tries to make people believe his policy coming to an end
Analyzing grammatical features, we see the speaker is trying to persuade his partner (Cuba) being the same group with his well-weilding of personal pronouns Also, he wants his partner believe that the given policy could meet its requirements by means of logical connectors because the policy is a right thing serving benefits to both countries Voice and mode help the speaker avoid inconvenience when concerning the sensitive history of the two, and to protect the face of his administration himself It can be said that via way of using grammatical features the speaker claims his belief and responsibility to the policy with Cuba and at some extent indirectly shows his commander-in-chef
Transitivity and thematic systems have made a great contribution in uncovering the ideology and power hidden behind the speech Let sum their some findings, the former system with the dominance of material process and the later with the prevailing of marked theme serve the speaker‟s aim of describing actions and events, and create the focal and smooth presentation of his ideologies: the normalizing policy with Cuba is true, and it is adequate because it serves mutual reimbursements, especially for his partner
At the level of textual features, the strategy of formulation is utilized aimed at helping the audience catch the points and agree with the speaker‟s intention In sum, the ultimate aims of the paper are found out That is the relation between ideology, power and language The speaker‟s ideology is his effort in making his policy, which is considered as his heritage before leaving the office, come an end And to get his ideology across, a number of strategies are employed including personal pronouns, nominalization, passivization, modality, cohesive devices, modes, or formulation By using such strategies, he wants to persuade the audience believing what his plan can bring about and a better future if the plan meets its requirements
In conclusion, CDA has revealed the relationship between language, ideologies and power hidden behind the discourse Language is a means to manifest the ideologies and power; on the other hand, language is to construct the ideologies and power; in turn, to some extent, showing one‟s identity Furthermore, analyzing this case study, it can be seen that Obama is of great intelligence in using language as a strategic tool to display his ideologies and power.
Implications
For those who are attracted by CDA can recognize its important role in linguistics research in particular, and in society in general It essential position is not only at the point of it employed various fields such as economy or politic, but also at the point of persuading people, getting speaker‟s ideology across and accepted by the mass, and asserting power at the same time After ending with the analysis, I realize that the role of CDA is of obviously importance, not only in term of academic, but also in field of politics It enhances our critical thinking in the area of openly-shared information and people‟s decision making
3) Limitations and further recommendations Though much effort toward fufilling the study has been carried out, the paper has remained some limitations as I mentioned at the scope the study There are several aspects that I can emphasis on such as written version, spoken version or body language; however, I only study the written version of the speech, ignorging other dimensions Therefore, if possible, I will make the study coming to an end by focusing the latter aspects
WEBSITE http://www.americanrhetoric.com/newtop100speeches.htm
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1 Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of
In the most significant changes in our policy in more than fifty years, we will end an
4 outdated approach that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests, and instead we
5 will begin to normalize relations between our two countries
6 Through these changes, we intend to create more opportunities for the American and
7 Cuban people, and begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas
8 There‟s a complicated history between the United States and Cuba
I was born in 1961 – just over two years after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, and just a
10 few months after the Bay of Pigs invasion, which tried to overthrow his regime
11 Over the next several decades, the relationship between our countries played out
12 against the backdrop of the Cold War, and America‟s steadfast opposition to
13 communism We are separated by just over 90 miles
14 But year after year, an ideological and economic barrier hardened between our two
16 Meanwhile, the Cuban exile community in the United States made enormous
17 contributions to our country in politics and business, culture and sports
18 Like immigrants before, Cubans helped remake America, even as they felt a painful
19 yearning for the land and families they left behind
20 All of this bound America and Cuba in a unique relationship, at once family and foe
21 Proudly, the United States has supported democracy and human rights in Cuba through
We have done so primarily through policies that aimed to isolate the island, preventing
24 the most basic travel and commerce that Americans can enjoy anyplace else
25 And though this policy has been rooted in the best of intentions, no other nation joins
26 us in imposing these sanctions, and it has had little effect beyond providing the Cuban
27 government with a rationale for restrictions on its people
28 Today, Cuba is still governed by the Castros and the Communist Party that came to
Appendix 1 Obama’s address on Cuba détente policy
Neither the American, nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted
31 in events that took place before most of us were born
32 Consider that for more than 35 years, we‟ve had relations with China a far larger
33 country also governed by a Communist Party
34 Nearly two decades ago, we reestablished relations with Vietnam, where we fought a
35 war that claimed more Americans than any Cold War confrontation
36 That‟s why when I came into office I promised to re-examine our Cuba policy As
37 a start, we lifted restrictions for Cuban Americans to travel and send remittances to
39 These changes, once controversial, now seem obvious
40 Cuban Americans have been reunited with their families, and are the best possible
42 And through these exchanges, a younger generation of Cuban Americans has
43 increasingly questioned an approach that does more to keep Cuba closed off from an
45 While I have been prepared to take additional steps for some time, a major obstacle
46 stood in our way the wrongful imprisonment, in Cuba, of a U.S citizen and USAID
47 sub-contractor Alan Gross for five years
48 Over many months, my administration has held discussions with the Cuban
49 government about Alan‟s case, and other aspects of our relationship
50 His Holiness Pope Francis issued a personal appeal to me, and to Cuba‟s President
51 Raul Castro, urging us to resolve Alan‟s case, and to address Cuba‟s interest in the
52 release of three Cuban agents who have been jailed in the United States for over 15
54 Today, Alan returned home reunited with his family at long last
55 Alan was released by the Cuban government on humanitarian grounds
56 Separately, in exchange for the three Cuban agents, Cuba today released one of the
57 most important intelligence agents that the United States has ever had in Cuba, and
58 who has been imprisoned for nearly two decades
This man, whose sacrifice has been known to only a few, provided America with the
60 information that allowed us to arrest the network of Cuban agents that included the
61 men transferred to Cuba today, as well as other spies in the United States
62 This man is now safely on our shores
63 Having recovered these two men who sacrificed for our country, I‟m now taking steps
64 to place the interests of the people of both countries at the heart of our policy
65 First, I‟ve instructed Secretary Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba to
66 reestablish diplomatic relations that have been severed since January of 1961 Going
67 forward, the United States will reestablish an embassy in Havana, and high-ranking
69 Where we can advance shared interests, we will on issues like health, migration,
70 counterterrorism, drug trafficking and disaster response
71 Indeed, we‟ve seen the benefits of cooperation between our countries before
It was a Cuban, Carlos Finlay, who discovered that mosquitoes carry yellow fever; his
73 work helped Walter Reed fight it
74 Cuba has sent hundreds of health care workers to Africa to fight Ebola, and I believe
75 American and Cuban health care workers should work side by side to stop the spread
77 Now, where we disagree, we will raise those differences directly as we will continue
78 to do on issues related to democracy and human rights in Cuba
79 But I believe that we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values
81 After all, these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked
82 It‟s time for a new approach
83 Second, I‟ve instructed Secretary Kerry to review Cuba‟s designation as a State
85 This review will be guided by the facts and the law
86 Terrorism has changed in the last several decades
At a time when we are focused on threats from al Qaeda to ISIL, a nation that meets
88 our conditions and renounces the use of terrorism should not face this sanction
Third, we are taking steps to increase travel, commerce, and the flow of information to
91 This is fundamentally about freedom and openness, and also expresses my belief
92 in the power of people-to-people engagement
93 With the changes I‟m announcing today, it will be easier for Americans to travel to
94 Cuba, and Americans will be able to use American credit and debit cards on the island
95 Nobody represents America‟s values better than the American people, and I believe
96 this contact will ultimately do more to empower the Cuban people
I also believe that more resources should be able to reach the Cuban people
So we‟re significantly increasing the amount of money that can be sent to Cuba, and
99 removing limits on remittances that support humanitarian projects, the Cuban people,
100 and the emerging Cuban private sector
I believe that American businesses should not be put at a disadvantage, and that
102 increased commerce is good for Americans and for Cubans
So we will facilitate authorized transactions between the United States and Cuba U.S
104 financial institutions will be allowed to open accounts at Cuban financial institutions
And it will be easier for U.S exporters to sell goods in Cuba
I believe in the free flow of information
Unfortunately, our sanctions on Cuba have denied Cubans access to technology that
108 has empowered individuals around the globe
So I‟ve authorized increased telecommunications connections between the United
Businesses will be able to sell goods that enable Cubans to communicate with the
United States and other countries
These are the steps that I can take as President to change this policy
The embargo that‟s been imposed for decades is now codified in legislation
As these changes unfold, I look forward to engaging Congress in an honest and serious
116 debate about lifting the embargo
Yesterday, I spoke with Raul Castro to finalize Alan Gross‟s release and the exchange
118 of prisoners, and to describe how we will move forward I made clear my strong belief
119 that Cuban society is constrained by restrictions on its citizens
In addition to the return of Alan Gross and the release of our intelligence agent, we
121 welcome Cuba‟s decision to release a substantial number of prisoners whose cases
122 were directly raised with the Cuban government by my team
We welcome Cuba‟s decision to provide more access to the Internet for its
124 citizens, and to continue increasing engagement with international institutions like the
United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross that promote
But I‟m under no illusion about the continued barriers to freedom that remain for
The United States believes that no Cubans should face harassment or arrest or beatings
130 simply because they‟re exercising a universal right to have their voices heard, and we
131 will continue to support civil society there
While Cuba has made reforms to gradually open up its economy, we continue to
133 believe that Cuban workers should be free to form unions, just as their citizens should
134 be free to participate in the political process
Moreover, given Cuba‟s history, I expect it will continue to pursue foreign policies that
136 will at times be sharply at odds with American interests
I do not expect the changes I am announcing today to bring about a transformation of
Cuban society overnight But I am convinced that through a policy of engagement, we
139 can more effectively stand up for our values and help the Cuban people help
140 themselves as they move into the 21st century
To those who oppose the steps I‟m announcing today, let me say that I respect your
142 passion and share your commitment to liberty and democracy
The question is how we uphold that commitment
I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a
Moreover, it does not serve America‟s interests, or the Cuban people, to try to push
Even if that worked and it hasn‟t for 50 years we know from hard-earned
149 experience that countries are more likely to enjoy lasting transformation if their people
150 are not subjected to chaos
We are calling on Cuba to unleash the potential of 11 million Cubans by ending
152 unnecessary restrictions on their political, social, and economic activities
In that spirit, we should not allow U.S sanctions to add to the burden of Cuban citizens
154 that we seek to help
To the Cuban people, America extends a hand of friendship
Some of you have looked to us as a source of hope, and we will continue to shine a
Others have seen us as a former colonizer intent on controlling your future
José Martí once said, “Liberty is the right of every man to be honest.”
Today, I am being honest with you
We can never erase the history between us, but we believe that you should be
162 empowered to live with dignity and self-determination
Cubans have a saying about daily life: “No es facil” it‟s not easy
Today, the United States wants to be a partner in making the lives of ordinary Cubans a
165 little bit easier, more free, more prosperous
To those who have supported these measures, I thank you for being partners in our
In particular, I want to thank His Holiness Pope Francis, whose moral example shows
169 us the importance of pursuing the world as it should be, rather than simply settling for
170 the world as it is; the government of Canada, which hosted our discussions with the
Cuban government; and a bipartisan group of congressmen who have worked tirelessly
172 for Alan Gross‟s release, and for a new approach to advancing our interests and values
Finally, our shift in policy towards Cuba comes at a moment of renewed leadership in
This April, we are prepared to have Cuba join the other nations of the hemisphere
177 at the Summit of the Americas But we will insist that civil society join us so that
178 citizens, not just leaders, are shaping our future
And I call on all of my fellow leaders to give meaning to the commitment to
180 democracy and human rights at the heart of the Inter-American Charter
Let us leave behind the legacy of both colonization and communism, the tyranny of
182 drug cartels, dictators and sham elections
A future of greater peace, security and democratic development is possible if we work
184 together not to maintain power, not to secure vested interest, but instead to advance
185 the dreams of our citizens
My fellow Americans, the city of Miami is only 200 miles or so from Havana
Countless thousands of Cubans have come to Miami on planes and makeshift rafts;
188 some with little but the shirt on their back and hope in their hearts
Today, Miami is often referred to as the capital of Latin America
But it is also a profoundly American city a place that reminds us that ideals matter
191 more than the color of our skin, or the circumstances of our birth; a demonstration of
192 what the Cuban people can achieve, and the openness of the United States to our family
Change is hard in our own lives, and in the lives of nations
And change is even harder when we carry the heavy weight of history on our
197 shoulders But today we are making these changes because it is the right thing to do
Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past so as to reach for a better
199 future for the Cuban people, for the American people, for our entire hemisphere, and
God bless you and God bless the United States of America
Appendix 2 Transitivity analysis in detail Line Participant Participant type
1 the United States of America Actor is changing Material
3 We Actor will end Material
4 Actor has failed to advance Material
5 We Actor will begin to normalize
6 We Actor intend to create Material
9 Fidel Castro Actor Took Material
10 Which Actor tried to overthrow Material
11 the relationship between our countries
12 We Goal are separated Material
13 an ideological and economic barrier
15 the Cuban exile community in the United States
18 All of this Actor Bound Material
19 the United States Actor has supported Material
20 We Actor have done Material
20 Actor aimed to isolate Material
22 Americans Actor can enjoy Material
23 this policy Goal has been rooted Material
23 no other nation Actor Joins Material
24 It Carrier has had Relational
25 Cuba Goal is still governed Material
Goal are well served Material
28 most of us Carrier Were Relational
29 we Carrier have had Relational
29 a far larger country Actor Governed Material
32 I Actor promised to re- examine
33 Actor to travel and send Material
34 These changes Sensor Seem Mental
35 Cuban Americans Goal have been reunited Material
39 I Goal have been prepared to take
39 a major obstacle Actor Stood Material
41 my administration Actor has held Material
43 His Holiness Pope Francis Actor Issued Material
44 Actor urging us to resolve Material
45 Goal have been jailed Material
47 Alan Goal was released Material
50 the United States Carrier has ever had Relational
50 who Goal has been imprisoned Material
51 This man, whose sacrifice Sensor has been known Mental
52 Actor allowed us to arrest Material
53 This man Carrier Is Relational
56 I Actor Am now taking steps to place
57 Actor to immediately begin Material
58 Goal have been severed Material
59 the United States Actor will reestablish Material
60 high-ranking officials Actor will visit Material
61 we Actor can advance Material
62 we Sensor have seen Mental
64 his work Actor Helped Material
65 Cuba Actor has sent Material
66 American and Cuban health care workers
68 we Actor will raise Material
68 we Actor will continue to do Material
69 we Actor can do Material
70 these 50 years Actor have shown Material
71 isolation Actor has not worked Material
73 This review Goal will be guided Material
73 Terrorism Actor has changed Material
74 we Actor are focused Material
75 the use of terrorism Actor should not face Material
77 We Actor are taking steps to increase
80 it Carrier will be Relational
81 Americans Actor will be able to use Material
83 this contact Actor will ultimately do more to empower
84 more resources Actor should be able to reach Material
84-85 We Actor ‟re significantly increasing
85 Goal can be sent Material
88 American businesses Goal should not be put Material
88-89 increased commerce Carrier Is Relational
89 we Actor will facilitate Material
90-91 U.S financial institutions Goal will be allowed to Material open
91 it Carrier will be Relational
93 our sanctions on Cuba Actor have denied Material
96 Businesses Actor will be able to sell Material
99 that‟s been imposed Goal ‟s been imposed Material
99 Goal is now codified Material
102 We Actor will move Material
103 Cuban society Goal is constrained Material
105 whose cases Goal were directly raised Material
111 The United States Sensor Believes Mental
111 no Cubans Actor should face Material
112 They Actor ‟re exercising Material
113 we Actor will continue to support
113 Cuba Actor has made Material
114 Actor to gradually open Material
114 we Sensor continue to believe Mental
114 Cuban workers Carrier should be Relational
115 their citizens Actor should be free to participate
117 it Actor will continue to pursue Material
118 Carrier will at times be Relational
118 I Sensor do not expect Mental
119 Actor to bring about Material
120 we Actor can more effectively stand up
121 they Actor move into Material
123 The question Carrier is Relational
124 I Sensor do not believe Mental
124 We Actor can keep doing Material
125 it Actor does not serve Material
126 Actor to try to push Material
128 their people Goal are not subjected Material
128 We Behaver are calling Behavioral
130 we Actor should not allow Material
131 we Actor seek to help Material
132 Some of you Actor have looked to Material
133 we Actor will continue to shine Material
133 Others Sensor have seen Mental
We Actor can never erase Material
136 you Goal should be empowered to live
138 the United States Carrier wants to be Relational
140 To those who Actor have supported Material
141 I Actor want to thank Material
142 whose moral example Actor Shows Material
142 it Carrier should be Relational
147 our shift in policy towards
148 we Goal are prepared to have Material
149 we Actor will insist Material
149 civil society Actor Join Material
157 the city of Miami Carrier Is Relational
Actor have come to Material
159 Miami Goal is often referred to Material
162 what the Cuban people Actor can achieve Material
165 we Actor are making Material
166 America Actor chooses to cut Material
Appendix 3 Thematic analysis in detail
3 In the most significant changes in our policy in more than fifty years
11 Over the next several decades 12 +
15 An ideological and economic barrier 15 -
34 Consider that for more than 35 years 34 +
50 A younger generation of Cuban Americans 44 -
59 Separately, in exchange for the three Cuban agents 58 +
63 Having recovered these two men who sacrificed for our country 65 +
In addition to the return of Alan Gross and the release of our intelligence agent
128 To those who oppose the steps 145 +
148 To those who have supported these measures 171 +
153 Our shift in policy towards Cuba 199 -
160 A future of greater peace, security and democratic development 188 +
Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba
2 In the most significant changes in our policy in more than fifty years, we will end an outdated approach that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests, and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries Through these changes, we intend to create more opportunities for the American and Cuban people, and begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas
Background of the past policy (to make a case for changes) o Failure of the past policy
3 There‟s a complicated history between the United States and Cuba
I was born in 1961 – just over two years after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, and just a few months after the Bay of Pigs invasion, which tried to overthrow his regime
Over the next several decades, the relationship between our countries played out against the backdrop of the Cold War, and America‟s steadfast opposition to communism We are separated by just over 90 miles But year after year, an ideological and economic barrier hardened between our two countries
Background of the past policy: o Failure of the past policy
4 Meanwhile, the Cuban exile community in the United States made enormous contributions to our country in politics and business, culture and sports
Like immigrants before, Cubans helped remake America, even as they felt a painful yearning for the land and families they left behind All of this bound America and Cuba in a unique relationship, at once family and foe
Background of the past policy: o Failure of the past policy
5 Proudly, the United States has supported democracy and human rights in Cuba through these five decades
We have done so primarily through policies that aimed to isolate the island, preventing the most basic travel and commerce that Americans can enjoy anyplace else
Background of the past policy: o Failure of the past policy
6 And though this policy has been rooted in the best of intentions, no other nation joins us in imposing these sanctions, and it has had little effect beyond providing the Cuban government with a rationale for restrictions on its people Today, Cuba is still governed by the Castros and the Communist Party that came to power half a century ago
Background for the past policy: o Failure of the past policy
7 Neither the American, nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted in events that took place before most of us were born Consider that for more than 35 years, we‟ve had relations with China a far larger country also governed by a Communist Party
Nearly two decades ago, we reestablished relations with Vietnam, where we fought a war that claimed more Americans than any Cold War confrontation
Background for the past policy: o Failure of the past policy
8 That‟s why when I came into office I promised to re-examine our Cuba policy As a start, we lifted restrictions for Cuban Americans to travel and send remittances to their families in Cuba These changes, once controversial, now seem obvious Cuban Americans have been reunited with their families, and are the best possible ambassadors for our values And through these exchanges, a younger generation of Cuban Americans has increasingly questioned an approach that does more to keep Cuba closed off from an interconnected world
9 While I have been prepared to take additional steps for some time, a major obstacle stood in our way the wrongful imprisonment, in Cuba, of a U.S citizen and USAID sub-contractor Alan Gross for five years
Over many months, my administration has held discussions with the Cuban government about Alan‟s case, and other aspects of our relationship His
Holiness Pope Francis issued a personal appeal to me, and to Cuba‟s President Raul Castro, urging us to resolve Alan‟s case, and to address Cuba‟s interest in the release of three Cuban agents who have been jailed in the United States for over 15 years
10 Today, Alan returned home reunited with his family at long last Alan was released by the Cuban government on humanitarian grounds Separately, in exchange for the three Cuban agents, Cuba today released one of the most important intelligence agents that the United States has ever had in Cuba, and who has been imprisoned for nearly two decades
This man, whose sacrifice has been known to only a few, provided America with the information that allowed us to arrest the network of Cuban agents that included the men transferred to Cuba today, as well as other spies in the United States This man is now safely on our shores
11 Having recovered these two men who sacrificed for our country, I‟m now taking steps to place the interests of the people of both countries at the heart of our policy
12 First, I‟ve instructed Secretary Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba to reestablish diplomatic relations that have been severed since January of 1961 Going forward, the United States will reestablish an embassy in Havana, and high- ranking officials will visit Cuba
13 Where we can advance shared interests, we will on issues like health, migration, counterterrorism, drug trafficking and disaster response Indeed, we‟ve seen the benefits of cooperation between our countries before It was a Cuban, Carlos Finlay, who discovered that mosquitoes carry yellow fever; his work helped Walter Reed fight it Cuba has sent hundreds of health care workers to Africa to fight Ebola, and I believe American and Cuban health care workers should work side by side to stop the spread of this deadly disease