Markus Rheindorf

This book traces the re-emergence of nationalism in the media, popular culture and politics, and the normalization of far-right nativist ideologies and attitudes in Austria between 1995 and 2015, within the framework of Critical Discourse Studies. In doing so, it brings together a range of theoretical and empirical approaches to identity politics, contemporary popular culture, far-right populism and commemoration. While contradictory yet intertwined tendencies towards renationalization and transnationalization have often framed debates about European identities, the so-called refugee crisis of 2015 intensified and polarized these debates. The COVID-19 pandemic, as another major crisis, saw nation-states react by closing borders, while symbols of banal nationalism proliferated. The data under discussion here, drawn from a variety of empirical studies, suggest that changes in memory politics—the way past events are collectively remembered and tied into current political discourses—are also linked to the dynamics of migration; the influence of financial and climate crises; changing gender politics; and a new transnational European politics of the past. Accordingly, the authors assess current challenges to liberal democracies, as well as fundamental human and constitutional rights, in relation to new trends of renationalization across Europe and beyond.

This book revisits discourse analytic practice, analyzing the idea that the field has access to, provides, or even constitutes a ‘toolbox’ of methods. The precise characteristics of this toolbox have remained largely un-theorized, and the author discusses the different sets of tools and their combinations, particularly those that cut across traditional divides, such as those between disciplines or between quantitative and qualitative methods. The author emphasizes the potential value of integrating methods in terms of triangulation and its specific benefits, arguing that current trends in Open Science require Discourse Studies to re-examine its methodological scope and choices, and move beyond token acknowledgements of ‘eclecticism’. In-depth case studies supplement the methodological discussion and demonstrate the challenges and benefits of triangulation. This book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars in Discourse Studies, particularly those with an interest in combining methods and working across disciplines.

Wie andere nationale Identitäten werden auch österreichische Identitäten über eine Vielzahl von Diskursen hergestellt und verhandelt, darunter Debatten über relevante, manchmal kontroversielle politische, historische, juristische Fragen. Diese Identitätsentwürfe erweisen sich als dynamisch und veränderlich. Fünf inhaltliche Schwerpunkte ergeben sich aus der Analyse: die Konstruktion des Homo Austriacus/der Femina Austriaca, einer gemein-samen Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft sowie einer gemeinsamen Kultur und eines „nationalen Körpers“. Das vorliegende Buch stellt die Ergebnisse eines dreijährigen Forschungsprojektes zu österreichischen Identitätsentwürfen im Gedenkjahr 2015 dar und zeichnet dafür die Entwicklungen seit 1995 nach. Der InhaltEinleitungTheoretische Zugänge und methodisches VorgehenHomo Austriacus/Femina Austriaca: Wir und die AnderenSprache/n und Identität/enErinnerung und GedenkenNationalismus und RechtspopulismusGrenzen und GrenzziehungenTöchtersöhne und nationale Identität/enKontinuitäten und Brüche 1995–2005–2015Die Autorinnen und AutorenDr. Rudolf de Cillia ist Professor i. R. für Angewandte Linguistik und Sprachlehrforschung am Institut für Sprachwissenschaft der Universität Wien. Em. Distinguished Professor Dr. Dr h.c. Ruth Wodak, Lancaster University, und Professorin i. R., Universität Wien, ist Sprachsoziologin und Diskursforscherin. Dr. Markus Rheindorf ist Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter und Lektor, Institut für Sprachwissenschaft/Universität Wien. Sabine Lehner ist Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin und ÖAW-Stipendiatin, Institut für Sprachwissenschaft/Universität Wien.

This book revisits discourse analytic practice, analyzing the idea that the field has access to, provides, or even constitutes a ‘toolbox’ of methods. The precise characteristics of this toolbox have remained largely un-theorized, and the author discusses the different sets of tools and their combinations, particularly those that cut across traditional divides, such as those between disciplines or between quantitative and qualitative methods. The author emphasizes the potential value of integrating methods in terms of triangulation and its specific benefits, arguing that current trends in Open Science require Discourse Studies to re-examine its methodological scope and choices, and move beyond token acknowledgements of ‘eclecticism’. In-depth case studies supplement the methodological discussion and demonstrate the challenges and benefits of triangulation. This book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars in Discourse Studies, particularly those with an interest in combining methods and working across disciplines.