“The Manufactured Clash of Civilizations”: The Imperialist Rhetoric of Western Journalism on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine
Location
PANEL: Communication Capstone Pt. III
CELA Moffett
Moderator: Cortney Smith
Document Type
Presentation - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 4:30 PM
End Date
5-1-2026 5:30 PM
Abstract
Mainstream news publications continue to serve as most USAmericans’ primary source of information involving global issues. However, trust in the media has declined in recent years due to its perceived political agendas: Pew Research Center reports 57% of USAmericans express low confidence in journalists’ ability to act in the best interests of the public in February 2026. This project aims to examine this perception through the lens of Edward S. Herman’s “propaganda model”, which posits mainstream journalism as an institutional tool that “manufactures consent” for violent USAmerican imperial pursuits. In an age where Western hegemony is increasingly challenged, by Asia in particular, scrutinizing the language employed by journalists to push an imperialist agenda has never been more important. This project compares the rhetorical strategies employed by The Associated Press and Reuters, publications widely considered “politically neutral”, when reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Ultimately, dehumanizing language/narratives about non-Western adversaries is the primary tool mainstream media uses to deliver pro-USAmerican imperialist messages to its consumers. Knowing this is key to understanding how modern alternative media may prove to be the key to loosening the grip that mainstream media has over political reality, as can be seen in contemporary attitudes towards the war in Iran.
Keywords:
Journalism, Imperialism, Communication studies, Orientalism
Recommended Citation
Kim, Erica, "“The Manufactured Clash of Civilizations”: The Imperialist Rhetoric of Western Journalism on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine" (2026). Research Symposium. 26.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/presentations/26
Major
Communication Studies
Project Mentor(s)
Cortney Smith, Writing and Communication
2026
“The Manufactured Clash of Civilizations”: The Imperialist Rhetoric of Western Journalism on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine
PANEL: Communication Capstone Pt. III
CELA Moffett
Moderator: Cortney Smith
Mainstream news publications continue to serve as most USAmericans’ primary source of information involving global issues. However, trust in the media has declined in recent years due to its perceived political agendas: Pew Research Center reports 57% of USAmericans express low confidence in journalists’ ability to act in the best interests of the public in February 2026. This project aims to examine this perception through the lens of Edward S. Herman’s “propaganda model”, which posits mainstream journalism as an institutional tool that “manufactures consent” for violent USAmerican imperial pursuits. In an age where Western hegemony is increasingly challenged, by Asia in particular, scrutinizing the language employed by journalists to push an imperialist agenda has never been more important. This project compares the rhetorical strategies employed by The Associated Press and Reuters, publications widely considered “politically neutral”, when reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Ultimately, dehumanizing language/narratives about non-Western adversaries is the primary tool mainstream media uses to deliver pro-USAmerican imperialist messages to its consumers. Knowing this is key to understanding how modern alternative media may prove to be the key to loosening the grip that mainstream media has over political reality, as can be seen in contemporary attitudes towards the war in Iran.
