Constructing the Other: Securitising Discourses in the Dutch and German 2017 National Elections

Jodie VAN 'T HOFF

Master's thesis

Who are they afraid of? Far Right Othering Narratives in Germany and the Netherlands since 2016

Abstract:

This thesis examines the securitisation of migration and the LGBTQ+ community of two European populist right-wing parties during the Dutch and German national elections of 2017. The parties under consideration are the German Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and the Dutch Forum voor Democratie (FvD). Through a critical discourse analysis of the parties' election manifestos and Facebook campaign, the thesis shows that both parties use security discourse concerning migration, however, they take different approaches with the AfD stressing physical insecurity, while the FvD stresses nonphysical insecurity. Only the AfD uses security discourses to construct an image of the LGBTQ+ community in their election manifesto, for the FvD this is seemingly a non-issue. As such the AfD takes a backlash approach to the LGBTQ+ community by fearing for the 'traditional' German family. The FvD, on the other hand, approaches the topic from a post-feminist standpoint where equality is perceived to be achieved. Consequently, they are against further anti-discrimination measures.

Abstract:

This thesis examines the securitisation of migration and the LGBTQ+ community of two European populist right-wing parties during the Dutch and German national elections of 2017. The parties under consideration are the German Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and the Dutch Forum voor Democratie (FvD). Through a critical discourse analysis of the parties' election manifestos and Facebook campaign, the thesis shows that both parties use security discourse concerning migration, however, they take different approaches with the AfD stressing physical insecurity, while the FvD stresses nonphysical insecurity. Only the AfD uses security discourses to construct an image of the LGBTQ+ community in their election manifesto, for the FvD this is seemingly a non-issue. As such the AfD takes a backlash approach to the LGBTQ+ community by fearing for the 'traditional' German family. The FvD, on the other hand, approaches the topic from a post-feminist standpoint where equality is perceived to be achieved. Consequently, they are against further anti-discrimination measures.

Keywords

Securitisation, Europe, Elections, FvD, AfD, Migration, LGBTQ+

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 1. 8. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Gökhan Bacik, Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Humanities / Euroculture