The geopolitics of covid-19 : a pragma-cognitive approach

Abstract EN

This study intends to investigate the outbreak of coronavirus, scientifically known as COVID-19, within the context of discursive geopolitics.

In so doing, Cap's proximization is particularly suitable to address the cognitive paradigm of critical geopolitics.

Cap's proximization, as a pragma-cognitive framing device based on tempo-spatial dimensions, conceptualises the geopolitical identity of coronavirus by associating it with the qualities of space and time.

It is found that the NYT reporting of the corona event is framed in certain tempo-spatial configurations which cognitively endorse and proximize the geopolitical identity of the Chinese threat.

The notion of metaphorical scenario (Kövecses, 2003; Musolff, 2004), originated in the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (Lakoff, 1993; Lakoff & Johnson, 1980/2003) is then deployed to show how a geopolitical scenario of a CHINESE THREAT is represented in the NYT.

China is being laid before us spatially and temporally as the culprit behind the outbreak of coronavirus.

The study aims to give guidance to the field of discursive geopolitics by suggesting cognitive pragmatics as suitable tool for analyzing the construction of geopolitical entities.