Climate Politics in Populist Times

1. Introduction

A very short literature overview

Research questions and research design

Relevance of this research project

The European context

Structure of the book

References

2. Navigating the Discourse: Unravelling Climate Change Communication, Political Orientation, and Populist Far-Right Ideology

Conceptualisations of climate change scepticism, denial, and obstruction

Climate change communication and political orientation

Nationalism

Ecofascism

Climate change communication and populist far-right actors

Analysing the arguments

The ideational approach as an enlightening theoretical framework

The role of populist ideology

Chapter summary

References

3. Methodology: Innovatively Integrating Comparative Aspects in Critical Discourse Studies

Germany, Spain and Austria: Data and cases

Selection and justification of the time frame

Selection and justification of the cases

Selection and justification of the data

Critical Discourse Studies: DHA and BG

The policy field of climate change: DHA and BG

The discourse about climate change in populist far-right communication: DHA

Chapter summary

References

4. Decoding Climate Policy Fields in Germany, Spain and Austria: A Deep Dive into Mainstream Parties' Communication

Germany and the climate

The policy field of climate change in Germany from 2016 to 2018

The policy field of climate change in Germany from 2019 to 2020

Discussing party similarities and differences

Spain and the climate

The policy field of climate change in Spain from 2016 to 2018

The policy field of climate change in Spain from 2019-2020

Discussing party similarities and differences

Austria and the climate

The policy field of climate change in Austria from 2016 to 2018

The policy field of climate change in Austria from 2019-2020

Discussing party similarities and differences

Chapter summary

References

5. Understanding Far-Rights Climate Stand: Hostility, Environmental Self-Perception, and Climate Obstruction

The AfD against the climate

Entry-level analysis of discourse topics

In-depth analysis of discourse strategies

Vox against the climate

Entry-level analysis of discourse topics

In-depth analysis of discourse strategies

The FPOE against the climate

Entry-level analysis of discourse topics

In-depth analysis of discourse strategies

Chapter Summary

References

6. Contextualizing and Comparing: Climate Obstruction within the National Policy Field

Starting easy: How does the presence of climate change among mainstream parties and PFRPs correlate?

Gaining traction: How do discourses about climate change by PFRP relate to their respective national political fields?

Germany and its economy

Spain and its urgency

Austria and its opposition to nuclear power

Closing Thoughts

Delving further: How do PFRPs interact with each other and what does that say about populism?

Practical implication, limitations, and future research

Chapter summary

References

7. Conclusion

References

Index