THE POWER OF RHETORIC IN POLITICAL TRIALS: CASE STUDIES FROM ANGLO-SAXON AND CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN LEGAL SYSTEMS

The paper explores rhetorical strategies’ influential role in shaping political trials’ outcomes within Anglo-Saxon and continental European legal systems. By analysing specific case studies, the study reveals how legal actors deploy language and discourse to construct narratives that influence public opinion and sway judicial decisions. The research underscores the profound impact of rhetorical techniques on both the dynamics of legal proceedings and their broader socio-political implications. These trials, often occurring at the intersection of law and politics, highlight the strategic use of rhetoric to advance political agendas or solidify judicial authority. The comparative approach provides insights into both universal and context-specific rhetorical practices, revealing significant variations between Anglo-Saxon legal traditions, where individual rights and constitutional principles dominate, and continental European frameworks, which emphasize collective societal interests and state authority. This analysis contributes to understanding rhetoric’s pivotal role in political trials, expanding the discourse on the intersection of law, language, and power.