ANALYZING THE PERSUASIVE POWER OF PAKISTANI POLITICAL ANTHEMS: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF PML (N) IDEOLOGIES

Abstract

Political songs are potent tools of persuasion in the realm of public discourse and activism. A persuasive analysis of political songs involves dissecting their lyrics, musical composition, and performance contexts to uncover their intended effects on the audiences. The current study attempts to explore how the selected political song employs rhetorical devices such as metaphor, allegory, repetition, and imagery to shape perceptions, mobilize communities, and advocate for social change. The sample of study includes the lyrics of the election campaign song used by Pakistan's main political party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), during the 2024 general elections. The data analysis utilizes a prototype of critical discourse analysis in conjunction with Van Dijk’s socio-cognitive framework (2004).The findings reveal that PML (N)'s campaign song "Pakistan ko Nawaz do" employed strategic positive self-representation emphasizing prosperity and ethical leadership. Simultaneously, it employs negative portrayal of opponents to strengthen its electoral appeal, utilizing rhetorical devices like anaphora and metaphors to enhance persuasive impact. This representation further plays a crucial role in shaping political discourse and voter perception in Pakistan's electoral context. Moreover, the practical significance of the study lies in its ability to empower readers with analytical tools to critically engage with political language, understand its implications, and effectively navigate the complexities of political discourse in society. However, the future researchers can conduct similar studies on political songs of other main stream political parties.