Jakob Schwörer | Leuphana University (original) (raw)

Papers by Jakob Schwörer

Religion and illiberal Politics in Europe and beyond: Concepts, Actors, and identity Narratives, 2020

West European Politics, 2020

Academic research focuses on political communication of populist radical right parties and on the... more Academic research focuses on political communication of populist radical right parties and on their discourses about the political mainstream. Yet, we know less about how the political mainstream talks about radical right populists. Scholars assume a demonisation of populist radical right parties by the mainstream, which portrays the far-right outsiders as Nazis or fascists. This study assesses whether demonising discourses are indeed a common communicative element of Western European mainstream parties by analysing parties’ messages on Twitter in ten Western European countries during election campaigns. The findings indicate that demonising discourses are not as widespread as assumed in the literature but occur exclusively among some centre-left parties. In the article it is argued that historical contexts (experiences with fascist rule) and electoral breakthrough of radical right parties might explain why certain centre-lefts demonise their far-right competitors while others do not.

Party Politics, 2020

Several scholars suggest that religion is on the rise in party competition due to the upswing of ... more Several scholars suggest that religion is on the rise in party competition due to the upswing of radical right parties presenting themselves as defender of Christianity against a Muslim threat. The lack of comparative and longitudinal studies calls for a systematic investigation of parties’ religious references in order to know whether religion indeed is on the rise in party politics. Conducting a partially computer-based quantitative content analysis of 71 election manifestos in five countries since the 1980s, we provide empirical evidence that religion is recently gaining salience in party competition. The study reveals that we are experiencing the evolution of a new religious cleavage originating from the exclusion of Islam and resulting in an emphasis on Christian roots and values and in a strategic use of secular arguments by the radical right. The findings further suggest that mainstream parties responded to these religious discourses by incorporating religious elements in their own election manifestos.

Zeitschrift für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik, 2018

Right-wing populist parties have recently seen remarkable electoral success in Europe. The exclus... more Right-wing populist parties have recently seen remarkable electoral success in Europe. The exclusion of the political elite and certain ethnic, cultural, or religious groups from the people is described as their core characteristics. Some scholars argue that—within this logic of reasoning—right-wing populist parties increasingly refer to (supposedly) Christian roots and traditions, which are said to be endangered by the immigration of ‘aggressive’ Muslims. Thus, right-wing populists abuse the Christian religion and traditions in order to exclude certain sections of the population from the people or to deny them access to the ‘Christian Occident’. Taking the Italian Northern League as a case study, this paper examines whether and in which context this right-wing populist party refers to Christianity. Based on a content analysis that examines both quality and quantity of Christian-religious references, election programs, articles from the party’s website, and the party’s Twitter account are analysed. In conclusion, it can be stated that the Northern League actually refers to Christian traditions, dignitaries, and followers only in the context of a demarcation rhetoric towards others—especially towards Islam, although these references are used rather rarely. In addition, the Northern League seems to be the only relevant Italian party that uses Christian references at all.

Religion, State and Society, 2020

Political scientists have strongly focused on the religiosity of voters and its effects on electo... more Political scientists have strongly focused on the religiosity of voters
and its effects on electoral behaviour. However, the religious
stances of political parties have largely been neglected. Yet, some
scholars argue that religion is on the rise again due to the success of
populist radical right parties, which use religious references as
a campaigning strategy and present themselves as defenders of
Christianity against a Muslim threat. Conducting a dictionary-based
quantitative content analysis of the election manifestos and
Facebook posts of 36 political parties in seven Western European
countries, this study provides evidence that populist radical right
parties frame Islam in a more negative way than other party groups
while presenting Christianity in a more positive tone. However,
constructing religious outgroups seems to be much more important to radical right parties than creating a Christian ingroup.
Furthermore, our results suggest that there is no systematic link
between ideology and pro-secularism messages.

Books by Jakob Schwörer

Bibliotheka, 2016

JAKOB SCHWÖRER È nato a Lahr (Baden Württemberg) nel 1988.

Radical Right Movement Parties in Europe, 2018

Drafts by Jakob Schwörer

This study assesses if mainstream parties are increasingly using populist and nativist messages a... more This study assesses if mainstream parties are increasingly using populist and nativist messages as assumed by several scholars. Conducting a quantitative content analysis, I investigate how populist and nativist communication in election manifestos develops over time by analysing 31 programs of mainstream parties in Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy. The findings provide hints for a populist contagion-except in Germany-due to the emergence or electoral success of populist parties and especially due to shifts in public opinion. Stronger hints are provided regarding a contagion of right-wing messages in all countries. Accordingly, mainstream parties seem to be more prone to adopt messages against immigration and outgroups than against the political elite. The article concludes claiming that the populist contagion does not threaten democracy since anti-pluralist and illiberal messages are not adopted by mainstream parties. The contagion of nativist statements should be considered the main challenge.

Religion and illiberal Politics in Europe and beyond: Concepts, Actors, and identity Narratives, 2020

West European Politics, 2020

Academic research focuses on political communication of populist radical right parties and on the... more Academic research focuses on political communication of populist radical right parties and on their discourses about the political mainstream. Yet, we know less about how the political mainstream talks about radical right populists. Scholars assume a demonisation of populist radical right parties by the mainstream, which portrays the far-right outsiders as Nazis or fascists. This study assesses whether demonising discourses are indeed a common communicative element of Western European mainstream parties by analysing parties’ messages on Twitter in ten Western European countries during election campaigns. The findings indicate that demonising discourses are not as widespread as assumed in the literature but occur exclusively among some centre-left parties. In the article it is argued that historical contexts (experiences with fascist rule) and electoral breakthrough of radical right parties might explain why certain centre-lefts demonise their far-right competitors while others do not.

Party Politics, 2020

Several scholars suggest that religion is on the rise in party competition due to the upswing of ... more Several scholars suggest that religion is on the rise in party competition due to the upswing of radical right parties presenting themselves as defender of Christianity against a Muslim threat. The lack of comparative and longitudinal studies calls for a systematic investigation of parties’ religious references in order to know whether religion indeed is on the rise in party politics. Conducting a partially computer-based quantitative content analysis of 71 election manifestos in five countries since the 1980s, we provide empirical evidence that religion is recently gaining salience in party competition. The study reveals that we are experiencing the evolution of a new religious cleavage originating from the exclusion of Islam and resulting in an emphasis on Christian roots and values and in a strategic use of secular arguments by the radical right. The findings further suggest that mainstream parties responded to these religious discourses by incorporating religious elements in their own election manifestos.

Zeitschrift für Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik, 2018

Right-wing populist parties have recently seen remarkable electoral success in Europe. The exclus... more Right-wing populist parties have recently seen remarkable electoral success in Europe. The exclusion of the political elite and certain ethnic, cultural, or religious groups from the people is described as their core characteristics. Some scholars argue that—within this logic of reasoning—right-wing populist parties increasingly refer to (supposedly) Christian roots and traditions, which are said to be endangered by the immigration of ‘aggressive’ Muslims. Thus, right-wing populists abuse the Christian religion and traditions in order to exclude certain sections of the population from the people or to deny them access to the ‘Christian Occident’. Taking the Italian Northern League as a case study, this paper examines whether and in which context this right-wing populist party refers to Christianity. Based on a content analysis that examines both quality and quantity of Christian-religious references, election programs, articles from the party’s website, and the party’s Twitter account are analysed. In conclusion, it can be stated that the Northern League actually refers to Christian traditions, dignitaries, and followers only in the context of a demarcation rhetoric towards others—especially towards Islam, although these references are used rather rarely. In addition, the Northern League seems to be the only relevant Italian party that uses Christian references at all.

Religion, State and Society, 2020

Political scientists have strongly focused on the religiosity of voters and its effects on electo... more Political scientists have strongly focused on the religiosity of voters
and its effects on electoral behaviour. However, the religious
stances of political parties have largely been neglected. Yet, some
scholars argue that religion is on the rise again due to the success of
populist radical right parties, which use religious references as
a campaigning strategy and present themselves as defenders of
Christianity against a Muslim threat. Conducting a dictionary-based
quantitative content analysis of the election manifestos and
Facebook posts of 36 political parties in seven Western European
countries, this study provides evidence that populist radical right
parties frame Islam in a more negative way than other party groups
while presenting Christianity in a more positive tone. However,
constructing religious outgroups seems to be much more important to radical right parties than creating a Christian ingroup.
Furthermore, our results suggest that there is no systematic link
between ideology and pro-secularism messages.

Bibliotheka, 2016

JAKOB SCHWÖRER È nato a Lahr (Baden Württemberg) nel 1988.

Radical Right Movement Parties in Europe, 2018

This study assesses if mainstream parties are increasingly using populist and nativist messages a... more This study assesses if mainstream parties are increasingly using populist and nativist messages as assumed by several scholars. Conducting a quantitative content analysis, I investigate how populist and nativist communication in election manifestos develops over time by analysing 31 programs of mainstream parties in Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy. The findings provide hints for a populist contagion-except in Germany-due to the emergence or electoral success of populist parties and especially due to shifts in public opinion. Stronger hints are provided regarding a contagion of right-wing messages in all countries. Accordingly, mainstream parties seem to be more prone to adopt messages against immigration and outgroups than against the political elite. The article concludes claiming that the populist contagion does not threaten democracy since anti-pluralist and illiberal messages are not adopted by mainstream parties. The contagion of nativist statements should be considered the main challenge.