Populism in the European Cross-Border Space: Discourses of Right-Wing Populists on Migration in Regional Europe (PECS)

The project investigates political discourses on migration produced by European Right-Wing Populist (RWP) parties within cross-border regions of Europe. It is based on the assumption that RWP parties adapt their migration-as-crisis topos according to specific discursive representations of social groups within cross-border regions. The research focuses on how right-wing populism constructs migration as a security, cultural, or political problem across different regional and political contexts, and how these discourses shift or intersect depending on the type of cross-border region involved. Particular attention is paid to the current context of the intensification and diversification of European and non-European migration, further shaped by the consequences of the war in Ukraine.

The theoretical framework integrates multimodal critical discourse analysis, politolinguistics, border and regional studies, and intersectionality theory, thereby developing an interdisciplinary approach to the study of contemporary populism. The project moves beyond nationally bounded perspectives and highlights the importance of regional and cross-border dynamics in shaping the political meanings of migration.

The research is based on a comparative analysis of three types of cross-border regions relating to Austria, Slovenia, and Luxembourg: 1) the European Union as a cross-border macro-region; 2) meso-regions relying on international ties among neighbouring states and regions; and 3) micro-regions determined by urban spillover. The analysis includes different forms of political communication, such as party manifestos, social media posts, interviews, and other political discourses produced by representatives of selected RWP parties.

The project contributes to the study of populism and migration through a comprehensive analysis of right-wing populist discourses in cross border regional Europe. Its innovative character lies in the integration of previously disconnected theoretical perspectives, enabling a deeper understanding of contemporary forms of transnational populism and the risks these processes pose to liberal-democratic societies in Europe.

The project is carried out by the Department of Linguistics at the University of Vienna in cooperation with the Peace Institute and the LISER research institute in Luxembourg.

Project team

Project leader at PI: Mojca Pajnik

Peace Institute: Mojca Pajnik, Marko Ribać, Ana Frank, Lori Šramel Čebular

Featured image: Image by Vectorarte on Magnific