Power relations participating in the discourse formation of Iran’s water problem in “Shargh” and “Iran” newspapers

The following article seeks to understand the power relations participating in the discourse formation of Iran's water problem in “Shargh” and “Iran” newspapers. To this end, critical discourse analysis has been applied and 14 samples “Shargh” and “Iran” newspapers from 2013/8/3 to 2020/3/19 have been reviewed. According to the findings, some texts of the “Shargh” newspaper were published with the aim of laying the groundwork for implementation of the plans and policies of the 11th and 12th governments programs. In “Iran” newspaper, the role of officials and policy makers in creating the crisis and their responsibility in solving it is invisible. Furthermore, some of the “Iran” newspaper texts indirectly serve to vindicate government’s failure in solving the water crisis and reduce the expectations from the government. In “Iran” newspaper, people are blamed for not participating in solving the problem. In this way, the structures that prevent people's participation are become invisible and people's participation is reduced to saving. “Iran” newspaper portrays the society as a savior and discourages them from changing government policies. Based on the results, the effect of political powers on the formation of the water problem discourse in these newspapers is evident. Furthermore, water issue has become an excuse to make the opposition party appear ineffective, reduce expectations from the 11th and 12th governments, and eliminate responsibility from the governments and parliamentarians.