| dc.description.abstract | This study examined a paradox in the discourse of recent European radical right parties: while traditionally being strongly nationalist and rejecting of the EU, an appeal to a European ‘civilization’, including European values and heritage, seemed to be central in their discourse. Studies on radical right parties generally emphasized their nationalism and Eurosceptic viewpoints, while only a few recent studies pointed towards the appeal to a European identity by these parties, called ‘civilizationism’. This study aimed to fill this gap in the academic debate and investigated whether the social identity that the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) politicized during the European debt crisis (2009-2014) Europeanized, by investigating their discourse towards the mass public during this period as a case study. The theoretical framework of the thesis was based upon the theory of postfunctionalism, developed by Liesbet Hooghe and Gary Marks, as well as the theory of Europeanization of identities and public spheres of Thomas Risse. The analysis showed that while there was no clear gradual trend towards the Europeanization of the social identity that the PVV politicized during this period, the PVV did alternate between a more nationalized and Europeanized identity in their discourse, adjusted to the situation and audience. Therefore, this study concludes that the Europeanization of social identity was used as a deliberate strategy by the PVV when this was beneficial, perhaps with the intention to build towards a European public sphere between radical right parties. This insight is a fruitful first step in understanding the stance of European radical right parties in our world today. | |
