The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on Twitter

Western democracies live a populist impulse. In this context, the consolidation of digital technologies plays a key role due to their possibilities of efficiently spreading messages. This research examines the role that emotions play in the communication strategy on Twitter of populist actors from f...

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Main Authors: Laura Alonso-Muñoz, Andreu Casero-Ripollés
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Communication
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1159847/full
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author Laura Alonso-Muñoz
Andreu Casero-Ripollés
author_facet Laura Alonso-Muñoz
Andreu Casero-Ripollés
author_sort Laura Alonso-Muñoz
collection DOAJ
description Western democracies live a populist impulse. In this context, the consolidation of digital technologies plays a key role due to their possibilities of efficiently spreading messages. This research examines the role that emotions play in the communication strategy on Twitter of populist actors from four European countries: Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. The sample comprises the messages shared by four European political parties: Podemos, 5 Star Movement, National Front and UKIP and their respective leaders during the analysis period. In total, 9,128 messages are analyzed. The main findings show that fear, uncertainty or resentment are the emotions most frequently used by populist parties and leaders. Likewise, negative emotions have been observed in those messages whose primary actor is the political, economic and media classes, the European Union or immigration, while positive emotions, such as joy or pride, are associated with the figure of the leader and the party.
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spelling doaj.art-2e4a590df17e417abac2a47d6b8c4eb62023-05-05T15:00:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Communication2297-900X2023-05-01810.3389/fcomm.2023.11598471159847The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on TwitterLaura Alonso-MuñozAndreu Casero-RipollésWestern democracies live a populist impulse. In this context, the consolidation of digital technologies plays a key role due to their possibilities of efficiently spreading messages. This research examines the role that emotions play in the communication strategy on Twitter of populist actors from four European countries: Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. The sample comprises the messages shared by four European political parties: Podemos, 5 Star Movement, National Front and UKIP and their respective leaders during the analysis period. In total, 9,128 messages are analyzed. The main findings show that fear, uncertainty or resentment are the emotions most frequently used by populist parties and leaders. Likewise, negative emotions have been observed in those messages whose primary actor is the political, economic and media classes, the European Union or immigration, while positive emotions, such as joy or pride, are associated with the figure of the leader and the party.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1159847/fullpolitical communicationpopulismemotionsEuropeTwitter
spellingShingle Laura Alonso-Muñoz
Andreu Casero-Ripollés
The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on Twitter
Frontiers in Communication
political communication
populism
emotions
Europe
Twitter
title The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on Twitter
title_full The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on Twitter
title_fullStr The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on Twitter
title_full_unstemmed The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on Twitter
title_short The appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from Spain, Italy, France and the United Kingdom on Twitter
title_sort appeal to emotions in the discourse of populist political actors from spain italy france and the united kingdom on twitter
topic political communication
populism
emotions
Europe
Twitter
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2023.1159847/full
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