A Socio-Cognitive Construction of Moral Resistance: A Comparative Analysis of Mandela’s “ I am Prepared To Die” and Imran Khan’s “Open Letter from Prison”

Abstract

This research explores how political imprisonment is culturally redefined and justified as moral authority and collective way of injustice. it focuses  on Nelson Mandela's "I Am Prepared to Die" (1964) and Imran Khan's Second Open Letter to the Chief of Army Staff (2025) and his Message from Adiala Jail - August 2, 2025. The study interprets resistance as caused by shared cognitive models and ideologically infused knowledge and language structures through van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach under Critical Discourse Analysis. Both works use purposeful language and cognitive approaches to reframe imprisonment as moral justification rather than legal responsibility. The preferred or planned language, thoughtful pronoun, evaluative lexis, presuppositions, and strong moral argumentation—all of which promote in-group solidarity against government and institutional power—are all analyzed. The study reveals related socio-cognitive factors influencing popular and morally strong perception and resistance narratives world wide.