AN EXPANSION OF THE RHETORICAL VISION COMPONENT OF THE SYMBOLIC CONVERGENCE THEORY - THE COLD-WAR PARADIGM CASE

This study focuses on the expansion of the rhetorical vision component of Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT). The Cold War rhetorical vision serves as a paradigm case illustrating the emerging theory of group co nsciousness that is part of SCT. Through this extended example, we exp lain that, prior to their decline and terminus, three streams of commu nication (consciousness creating, consciousness raising and consciousn ess sustaining) characterize the life cycle of a rhetorical vision. We also demonstrate that rhetorical visions exist along at least four co ntinua and that a number of distinct rhetorical principles operate in the creation, development, maturity and decline of a rhetorical vision .