Jerry John Rawlings’ revolutionary identity rhetoric

The frequent deployment of ideographs in the rhetoric of social actors often marks them as agents of societal change and political transformation. This paper employs postcolonial theory and ideographic criticism to explore how Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s revolutionary leader, strategically utilized ideographs to shape his identity during the pivotal revolutions that led to the establishment of an extended military regime. The study contends that ideographs, as powerful rhetorical tools, have the capacity to animate and sustain ideologies. Politicians can flexibly manipulate these terms to craft compelling ideological narratives, appeal to collective consciousness, and generate public support for preferred perspectives, thereby maintaining power and legitimizing their regimes. The analysis identifies three dominant ideographs— , , and —within Rawlings’ revolutionary discourse. Each played a crucial role in constructing his populist national and African identity, resonating with the broader public and transforming the image of the military regime into a positively regarded legacy. This paper demonstrates how, in times of crisis, a politician’s use of ideographic language can reinforce ideological positions and frame enduring political identities, ultimately advancing the objectives of revolutionary politics

Identification (biology) · Identity (music) · Rhetoric · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Critical Theory and Philosophy · Rhetoric and Communication Studies