Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers of blood’ speech: A rhetorical political analysis

Abstract

This article exploits the developing political science literature on rhetorical political analysis (RPA) and applies it to one of the most controversial speeches of the post-war era in British politics. Alongside an analysis of the roots and impact of Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech the article deconstructs Powell's rhetoric and oratory. In doing so the article moves beyond the traditional modes of analysing the speech, which focus on the reproduction of 'new racisms' and which are prevalent within the sociological and social psychology academic literature. By using RPA the paper considers the speech through the use of the rhetorical techniques of persuasion i. appeals to ethos -i.e., the persona of the speaker; ii. pathos -i.e. the range of emotions evoked; iii. or logos -i.e. the evidence that supports the arguments underpinning the speech. This type of analysis showcases how and why Powell's speech made such an impact when just as inflammatory comments had been uttered by other Conservatives prior to 1968.

Playing to the Gallery: Emotive Rhetoric in Parliaments

“…Emotion shapes how citizens respond to misinformation (Weeks 2015) and represents an important component in understanding campaign effects (Weber 2013). Studies on rhetorical political analysis have examined the use of emotions in the rhetorical performance of UK parliamentarians (Atkins et al 2014;Crines 2013;Crines, Heppell, and Hill 2016;Finlayson and Martin 2008). For instance, Crines and Heppell (2017), building on an analysis of speeches of the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), conclude that Nigel Farage often relies on emotional appeals, such as hyperbole and fear, in order to define his position on identity issues.…”

Enoch Powell's ‘Rivers of Blood’ Speech: Fifty Years On

“…Even if they had been genuine, many questioned whether Powell should have read them out aloud: the intention in so doing was clearly incendiary. Nicholas Jones, son of the then editor of the Wolverhampton Express and Star, demonstrates in his article that Powell's intention, as stated to Clement Jones, 8 had been to grab the headlines.…”

Screening Solidarity in Late 1960s Britain: Racism, Anti-Apartheid, and a Televised Debate

“…Powell's infamous prediction, "As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding; like the Roman, I seem to see 'the River Tiber foaming with much blood,'" dates from this speech (Powell 1968a). It carefully alternated between emotive, sensationalist use of anecdote and rhetoric peppered with imagery of flooding and swamping, barely remaining within the limits of lawful discourse (Crines, Heppell, and Hill 2016;Schaffer 2014, 263, 275). Powell was not prosecuted under the hatred clause, as many thought he should have been.…”