Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This study utilizes theory from the Essex School of Ideology and Discourse Analysis (IDA) and investigates speeches and statements made by high-ranking European Union officials from the European Commission as well as policy documents. The inquiry reveals that antagonistic language was used to justif...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journals.openedition.org/rccs/13434 |
| _version_ | 1797986207602311168 |
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| author | Alexei Anisin |
| author_facet | Alexei Anisin |
| author_sort | Alexei Anisin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study utilizes theory from the Essex School of Ideology and Discourse Analysis (IDA) and investigates speeches and statements made by high-ranking European Union officials from the European Commission as well as policy documents. The inquiry reveals that antagonistic language was used to justify the tracking and tracing of civilians through the articulation of an empty “track and trace” signifier and the articulation of new identities premised on the vaccinated and non-vaccinated. Policy makers articulated new ideas surrounding a regime of truth and a common “people” while simultaneously negating opponents to pandemic policies by articulating floating signifiers, including xenophobia, disinformation, and populism. The exercise of power in health policies during the pandemic functioned according to logics similar to those employed in traditional political domains. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:30:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f24745f09f844d5aa3b61b64c74314a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0254-1106 2182-7435 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:30:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais |
| spelling | doaj.art-f24745f09f844d5aa3b61b64c74314a32022-12-22T04:36:56ZengCentro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de CoimbraRevista Crítica de Ciências Sociais0254-11062182-74352022-09-011283960Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 PandemicAlexei AnisinThis study utilizes theory from the Essex School of Ideology and Discourse Analysis (IDA) and investigates speeches and statements made by high-ranking European Union officials from the European Commission as well as policy documents. The inquiry reveals that antagonistic language was used to justify the tracking and tracing of civilians through the articulation of an empty “track and trace” signifier and the articulation of new identities premised on the vaccinated and non-vaccinated. Policy makers articulated new ideas surrounding a regime of truth and a common “people” while simultaneously negating opponents to pandemic policies by articulating floating signifiers, including xenophobia, disinformation, and populism. The exercise of power in health policies during the pandemic functioned according to logics similar to those employed in traditional political domains.http://journals.openedition.org/rccs/13434civil libertiesCOVID-19European CommissionEuropean Unionsurveillance |
| spellingShingle | Alexei Anisin Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 Pandemic Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais civil liberties COVID-19 European Commission European Union surveillance |
| title | Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Discourse, Antagonisms, and Identities during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | discourse antagonisms and identities during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | civil liberties COVID-19 European Commission European Union surveillance |
| url | http://journals.openedition.org/rccs/13434 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexeianisin discourseantagonismsandidentitiesduringthecovid19pandemic |