A framework for the examination and analysis of far-right populist discourse

This chapter presents a critical methodology for research on far-right populist discourse, proceeding along two lines. On the one hand, there is the philosophical backdrop and what it means to be a critical analyst of discourse. Here there is a discussion of criticality and then critical realism as an underlying philosophy of inquiry. On the other hand, there are the different aspects of communication that may be examined and analysed. In a section entitled ‘Key general features of discourse’, the chapter discusses ideology; interdiscursivity (including heteroglossia and intertextuality); ritual; topic choice and, importantly, non-choice (i.e. topics deliberately avoided); the use of topoi and keywords, in particular, lightning-rod keywords; and, finally, presupposition. In a section entitled ‘Key discourse strategies’, the chapter focuses on key discursive strategies which constitute flooding the zone with shit, the spread of disinformation and manipulation. These are lying; misleadingness; bullshitting, gaslighting; astroturfing; blaming; whataboutism, false balances and equivalences; ‘just asking questions’; ‘it wasn’t me’; ‘I do my research’; projection; and they-ism.