Reaffirming Stereotypes: The Economist’s Construction of Bulgaria’s Image
Author: Kalina Ishpekova-Bratanova
Abstract
This paper attempts to carry out a critical discourse analysis of The Economist’s narrative on Bulgaria and the Bulgarians in the period 2001-2015. The major aim is to expose how the high-quality global media outlet, admittedly a leader in shaping public opinion on the relevant international issues of our contemporary life, constructs the image of the country and its nationals. This paper holds the view that The Economist has a well-established discursive strategy whereby it creates the political myth about Bulgaria, reaffirming a deeply rooted stereotype about the country and its nationals. The findings suggest that this strategy involves thematic range, macrosyntax and multimodality and that deeply entrenched perceptions of Bulgaria in the western world are reaffirmed. Bulgaria’s highly critical negative image as constructed by the media can be attributed to The Economist’s identity as a global non-state actor in international relations and to the alleged differences between the Bulgarian national identity and Britishness.