Illness narratives in political communication

This chapter explores political actors’ illness accounts published in the media. Until recently, politicians’ health conditions have been a prominent topic in political discussions and electoral campaigns. This broad interest relates to the multiple functions of the body in political contexts. This chapter discusses the links between individual forms of body presentation and institutional representation. It also covers a discourse-analytical case study that examines the illness narratives of two German state ministers and reveals the highly normative expectations regarding body presentations in the field of politics. On the one hand, the illness is portrayed as an excuse for political failures. On the other hand, political bodies are constructed that gain additional competences through the illness experience. Furthermore, political actors’ mediated illness narratives transfer societal problems of power and control to the site of individual bodies. Finally, it addresses how political processes become tangible for wider audiences, which is crucial for contemporary media societies.