Différance in Regional Development Discourse: A Deconstructive Semiotics Analysis of Local Political Rhetoric in South Sulawesi

Abstract

This article explores how “development” is discursively constructed and strategically mobilized in local political rhetoric in South Sulawesi through Derrida’s concept of différance and deconstructive semiotics. In recent regional elections, development has become a dominant rhetorical resource, with candidates invoking notions such as “progress,” “modernization,” and “prosperity” as central signifiers. Yet these terms rarely carry stable or measurable meanings; instead, their meaning is deferred to an uncertain future and adapted to shifting contexts. Using a qualitative, interpretive discourse-analytic approach, the study examines speeches, debate transcripts, campaign slogans, and visual materials from mayoral and gubernatorial campaigns in 2023–2024. The analysis maps key development signifiers, identifies recurring binary oppositions, and traces how différance appears through ambiguities, contradictions, and deferred meanings. The study finds that “development” operates as a floating, overdetermined signifier that enables politicians to occupy multiple discursive positions without clear accountability. The use of development rhetoric thus relies on strategic vagueness and temporal deferral. The article contributes theoretically by integrating différance into regional political discourse analysis and methodologically by demonstrating how deconstructive semiotics enriches critical discourse studies. Practically, it offers a critical lens for citizens, educators, and media practitioners to interrogate development narratives in local campaigns.