PhD Student at our Department Swantje Höft co-authored the publication "‘Demographic Tsunami’ and ‘Welcome Culture for the Unborn’- Population policy discourses of EU institutions on twitter and the role of right-wing and conservative forces" together with GENS Faculty Andrea Pető, Judith Goetz, and Livia Sz. Oláh. The paper is published in ZRex – Zeitschrift für Rechtsextremismusforschung.
The European Union has faced substantial demographic challenges in recent times and will continue to do so in the future. The paper analyses why and how demographic discourses were hijacked by illiberal, right-wing, and conservative forces. Looking at Twitter posts of members and political parties of the European Parliament from 2015 to 2021, it explores i) who are the main actors interpreting demographic trends; ii) what issues they discuss, and which explanatory frameworks they use. Critical discourse analysis is the analytical tool applied. This study adds to current research and presents the first quantitative analysis of historical Twitter data in the field of demographic discourses. The key findings of the Twitter analysis show that EU institutions are aware that demographic change is primarily driven by the ageing population, migration, and low birth rates. While there is consensus across EU actors that the ageing population is a major demographic challenge, other trends remain disputed or vaguely mentioned.
Congratulations to Swantje Höft and Prof. Andrea Pető!