Is politics dirty? The conceptual spheres of CLEANLINESS and DIRT in Czech political discourse

Abstract

The article explores how metaphors related to the conceptual spheres DIRT and CLEANLINESS shape the moral evaluation of politics and politicians in Czech political discourse. The author identifies key conceptual metaphors such as POLITICS IS DIRT, LOSS OF REPUTATION IS STAINING, and CHANGE OF POLITICAL SYSTEM IS CLEANSING, which express distrust, moral judgment, and calls for change of the political system. These metaphors serve both to discredit opponents and to legitimize one’s own image, reinforcing the ideological opposition “us vs. them.” The study demonstrates that metaphorical mapping based on the spheres of DIRT and CLEANLINESS influences voters’ perceptions of political ethics.