Fear-based self-legitimation in the institutional climate change discourse: Case study of the European Parliament's online communication.

The article offers fresh insights on the intricate interplay between self-legitimation and fear in the climate change institutional discourse by providing nuanced exploration of the specific ways in which the European Parliament exploited fear-based appeals in its online digital communication on cli...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Parliamentary Affairs Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 461 - 486
Autor principal: Meislová, Monika Brusenbauch
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / USA Apr2026
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The article offers fresh insights on the intricate interplay between self-legitimation and fear in the climate change institutional discourse by providing nuanced exploration of the specific ways in which the European Parliament exploited fear-based appeals in its online digital communication on climate change action during its ninth term, between 2019 and 2024. It draws on discursive institutionalism and fear appeals theory and adopts a multi-method research approach, combining qualitative content analysis and critical discourse analysis. The article reveals a substantial reliance on fear in the assembly's self-legitimation discourse and addresses the inherently paradoxical nature of the nexus between self-legitimation and fear.