Representation of Europe’s Attitude Toward the Arab Spring in Cartoons on the Artpictures Website: A Semiotic Analysis Based on Ferdinand de SaussureNALYSIS BASED ON FERDINAND DE SAUSSURE

Abstract

The Arab Spring was a significant sociopolitical phenomenon that raised hopes for change across the Arab world while eliciting complex international responses, particularly from Europe. This study examines the representation of European attitudes toward the Arab Spring in cartoons published on the Artpictures website using Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotic approach. Employing a qualitative method, the research uses documentation and visual content analysis to identify signifiers, signifieds, and oppositions of meaning within the selected cartoons. The findings reveal that Europe is portrayed as an ambivalent and protective entity through symbols such as the “European Winter”, walls, and barbed wire. These visual elements suggest Europe’s reluctance to accept the consequences of the Arab Spring, particularly those associated with political change and migration. The study concludes that this representation exposes a discrepancy between Europe’s image as a defender of democracy and its attitudes toward political developments in the Arab world. Further research should examine broader datasets using more comprehensive analytical approaches.