I had come to see for myself: Prime ministers, natural disaster and the people

Abstract

The work is situated within the field of rhetorical criticism and, more broadly, communication studies. It is concerned with the rhetorical strategies adopted by political leaders to identify with and unify communities, which is an intellectual theme prominent in rhetorical criticism internationally. The work contextualizes and draws conclusions from seven case studies, based on parliamentary and press records, of Australian prime ministers' responses to natural disaster from 1918 to 2011. It demonstrates an increasing emphasis on prime ministers conveying physical and emotional engagement with communities affected by natural disaster.