Discursive Warfare: Bellingcat Challenging Dominant Actors
Abstract
This article has examined how Bellingcat, as a contemporary digital social movement (DSM),
challenges hegemonic discourses about global social injustices. Through a case study approach,
this article has focused on the ensuing discursive warfare which surrounded the downing of
commercial flight MH17 and Bellingcat's engagement in the discursive struggle, as portrayed
in their podcast. The empirical material has been analysed through tools of Critical Discourse
Analysis, a social movement studies perspective and the concept parrhesiastic sousveillance.
Bellingcat's strengths as a DSM were found to be their alternative discourses and epistemology,
and hybrid form of movement. The alternative discourses identified was the War of Words,
New Cold War Discourses, Unveiling the Truth, and Seeking Support in Challenging Dominant
Actors. Their alternative epistemology was found to allow for acts of parrhesiastic
sousveillance, by providing awareness of discursive struggles entailed by social injustices,
utilising open-source investigations and decentralised networks to produce alternative
discourses and engage in parrhesiastic truth-saying. Bellingcat's hybrid form of movement
combines both a centralised structure and decentralised networks. The article contributes to
understanding the functions of DSMs and their impact on discursively challenging dominant
actors about global social injustices.
Degree
Student essay
View/ Open
Date
2023-08-29Author
Rydén, Liam
Keywords
Alternative Epistemology, Bellingcat, Contemporary Digital Social Movement, Critical Discourse Analysis, Discursive Warfare, Parrhesiastic Sousveillance
Language
eng