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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Country images and identities in times of populism: Swiss media discourses on the ‘stop mass immigration’ initiative
Diana IngenhoffAnabella BejuAlina Doleasubject
Sociology and Political ScienceCommunicationmedia_common.quotation_subject05 social sciencesImmigration050801 communication & media studiesPublic diplomacy0506 political sciencePopulism0508 media and communicationsState (polity)Political economyPolitical scienceReferendumNational identity050602 political science & public administrationNation brandingStrategic communicationmedia_commondescription
The construction of certain country images and identities is traditionally studied in relation to public diplomacy, strategic communication and nation branding practices of state and non-state actors. However, we notice the increased instrumentalization of country images and identities in debates on issues beyond strategic promotional practices, such as those articulated around elections, referendums or migration. We analyse how Swiss media constructed Switzerland's image and identity in the debate following the 2014 referendum on ‘stop mass immigration’ initiative, in times of populism, a communication phenomenon and ideology discursively articulated by political and media actors. Thus, we: (1) bridge streams of research on country images, identities, migration and populism that have yet to be integrated; (2) propose critical discourse analysis to identify specific discursive strategies (offering insights into alternative methodologies for studying populist political communication content and style); (3) highlight the role of media in reproducing populist discourses on country images and identities.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-07-27 | International Communication Gazette |