Discourse Analysis and European Union Politics

This book reflects on the latest developments in discourse analysis in the context of EU politics research. It explores discourse analysis as a tool to study and understand EU politics, covering key conceptual, methodological and research-strategic questions. The analytical approach advanced in this book is anchored in discursive institutionalism, the newest addition to approaches in new institutionalism. The author particularly focuses on discourse as a strategic resource for political purposes, as a device for inclusion and exclusion in policy-making, and as a means of conveying and appealing to political emotions, as well as the role visual discourse and imagery play in day-to-day EU politics. Including a variety of examples using different combinations of research techniques and data material, the book also addresses issues related to the study of discursive structures and agency, discourse conflict and consensus, causality and the time dimension in discourse analysis.

“This book is a valuable contribution to the existing literature with a focus on the use of DA for the study of politics. … this book which is written in a lucid style is accessible to a broad spectrum of readership, including lay readers, scholars, post-graduate students, interested in the areas of DA, language, international relations and political sciences.” (Muhammad Afzaal, Discourse Studies, Vol. 22 (5), 2020)

Kennet Lynggaard is Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, Denmark. His research focuses on politics and governance, research design, and the role of symbols, myths and emotions in European integration. He is the co-editor of Research Methods in European Union Studies (with I. Manners and K. Löfgren, 2015) and has published in numerous journals, including Journal of European Public Policy, West European Politics, New Political Economy, Comparative European Politics, and Journal of European Integration.