Chapter 4
Austria
Supporting the FPÖ to protect Austria
This chapter focuses on voter motivation in the Austrian
context. Postings made in response to the right-wing Freedom Party’s (FPÖ)
social media content were examined, specifically, pro-FPÖ comments
responding to ten FPÖ postings on Facebook and YouTube. The data were
analysed for the representation of social actors, focusing on who is
referred to and how, and what traits are ascribed to these actors. The key
issue motivating support for the populist FPÖ is the desire to protect
Austria and its interests, and the conviction that the FPÖ is the only party
that is willing and able to do so. The social actors that allegedly pose a
threat to Austria are various other parties, asylum seekers and the EU.
Article outline
- Introduction
- The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ)
- History of the FPÖ
- The FPÖ’s discourse
- Data and methods
- Data analysis
- Austria(ns) as ingroup and voting motivation
- The FPÖ and its supporters
- The Other
- The EU
- Refugees, foreigners and Islam
- Political opponents
- Conclusion
-
Notes