DRAFT 1 Ivan Gololobov Discourse Analysis: a Methodology for Emancipation? Abstract Discourse analysis as a paradigm in linguistics, and in the social sciences does not only depart from the acknowledgement of purely academic interests articulated in the field of language studies. The crucial moment uniting researchers from different places and disciplines is a political commitment. Political commitment of Critical Discourse Analysis (hereinafter – CDA) is, for instance, driven by a noble intention, which opens the gate to anyone concerned with the same social problems, thereby allowing them to join this intellectual initiative. Following such an invitation this research puts up for discussion some questions that need to be discussed in order to bring us closer to the identified aim of our analytical activity. However, can an intention however noble it is be enough to fulfil the set mission? This paper aims to spell out a methodological foundation for CDA and some other approaches towards discourse analysis in order to show how methodological foundations affect political implications and what we, as scholars have to be aware of in our challenge of inequality, injustice, social discrimination and other burning issues of contemporary society. Key words: Critical Discourse Analysis, New Theories of Discourse, ethics, methodology, emancipation, discrimination, inequality