Deliberative Oratory in the Darkest Hour: Style Analysis of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Speech at the Security Council

Abstract

In 1971 Pakistan suffered a near death experience: genocide, civil war, migration and territorial configuration.  Central to understanding this experience is the statement of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at the Security Council that not only embodied the Pakistani reaction and explained the national viewpoint; it also brought forth the major complexities and participants. The focus of this paper is a style analysis of the statement delivered by Bhutto on December 15, 1971. Using two discourses: the scholarly and the theatrical to communicate purpose, he flouted restrictions of diplomatic discourse and employed emotional nuance to reach his audience. Though ironic, deeply personal and hyperbolic the statement is significant example of deliberative oratory. The intensely personal style is central to its enduring power.