Polish-Lithuanian Rhetoric in Media Discourse

Abstract This study examines how Polish-Lithuanian political myths, stereo- types, and historical phobias are reproduced and transformed in contemporary media discourse. Although many of these narratives originate in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century nation-building processes, they continue to shape rhetorical strategies, identity boundaries, and perceptions of the “Other” in both states. The research employs an inductive methodological framework informed by Abdelal et al. (2009), Allan (2016), and Hopf (2005), treating media discourse as an intersubjective site where collective identities are constructed and contested. Inductive content analysis identifies recurring lexical choices and evaluative patterns, while inductive discourse analysis reconstructs broader narrative logics and ideological oppositions without imposing predefined categories. The empirical material comprises Polish and Lithuanian media texts published between December 2010 and March 2014, a period marked by intensified debate following protests against Lithuania’s amended Education Act. Approximately 600 media items from major Polish broadcasters and Lithuanian- and Polish-language newspapers form the dataset. The findings demonstrate that historical myths, stereotypes, and anxieties – such as fears of occupation, accusations of chauvinism, and competing narratives of victimhood – persist in twenty- first-century rhetoric, resurfacing particularly in moments of political tension. These discursive patterns illuminate the enduring role of media in reproducing asymmetrical national identities within Polish-Lithuanian relations.