Ylivoimaisteltuja

Ylivoimaisteltuja is a Finnish neologism used in discourse analysis and media criticism to describe rhetorical constructions that present power or dominance as natural, inevitable, or self-evident. The term signals that the narrative or actor portrays superiority as something cultivated or imposed, rather than earned or negotiated, and that this framing serves to marginalize alternative voices.

Etymology and form: The word combines yli (over, above) and voima (power) with the participial suffix -isteltuja, which indicates something that has been implanted or cultivated in discourse. The form is plural; grammatically it can be adjusted to fit different contexts, such as singular forms or different noun phrases depending on sentence structure.

Usage and context: In academic writings and some journalistic critiques, ylivoimaisteltuja is used to label statements, frames, or campaigns that assert systemic dominance or naturalize hierarchy. Examples include political campaigns that present policy outcomes as the only possible or just order, or media narratives that depict dissent as abnormal or dangerous because it challenges a presumed order of power.

Limitations: The term is relatively new and not uniformly standardized, so its meaning can vary by author or context. It is mainly found in analytic discussions rather than as a formal concept in Finnish political science. When applying it, writers typically provide clear definitions and concrete examples to avoid ambiguity.

See also: propaganda, narrative framing, discourse analysis, hegemony, master narrative.