Discourse As A Social Constructive Power

This study focuses on the social constructive function of discourse. A critical discourse analysis on the speeches delivered by Romano Prodi, Former President of European Commission, from June 2001 to June 2004, is conducted to illuminate such function. Here the discursive construction of European identity is taken as a case study to demonstrate how collective identity is constructed in discourse. In addition, Critical Discourse Analysis proves to be an effective analytical apparatus in revealing how discourse is involved in social processes.