Vigilant patriots or vigilantes: A critical discourse analysis of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps' Web site
Abstract
This thesis is a critical discourse analysis of the public web site published by the civilian border patrol organization known as the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. This paper addresses recent historical developments related to the “immigration debate” and provides an overview of the conflicted space of the United States and Mexican borderlands. Fisher’s (1984) narrative paradigm frames this inquiry, and critical discourse analysis is used to investigate the ideologies that emerge from a critical reading of artifacts contained in the Minuteman web site. Findings suggest that a dichotomy exists between the Minuteman organization’s self-perception as a non-racist social action group, and the web site of study, which contains materials that convey ideologies of race, class, nationalism, and the struggle for power over marginalized peoples. Limitations are addressed and ideas for further study are provided.
Subject Area
Mass media
Recommended Citation
Gradsky, Normajean, "Vigilant patriots or vigilantes: A critical discourse analysis of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps' Web site" (2007). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1448845.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1448845