<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article analyses the ideational features of conservative civil society groups at EU level and compares them to progressive groups. Through a frame analysis of the textual materials of these two types of organisations, I examine their reactions to the success of populist formations in several European member states and at EU level. I argue that the long-established EU ethos of fostering progressive civil society is undergoing a redefinition, which impacts their strategies. I posit that in a changing political climate, EU institutions are less interested in some of the contributions progressive civil society offers, such as its contributions to public deliberation, governance, and the legitimacy of the EU. Progressive civil society reacts to the threat of a loss of standing and attempts to retain its historical centrality, legitimacy, and access. In contrast, conservative civil society groups seek to establish themselves in a political environment previously off-limits to them.</p>
</abstract>

This article analyses the ideational features of conservative civil society groups at EU level and compares them to progressive groups. Through a frame analysis of the textual materials of these two types of organisations, I examine their reactions to the success of populist formations in several European member states and at EU level. I argue that the long-established EU ethos of fostering progressive civil society is undergoing a redefinition, which impacts their strategies. I posit that in a changing political climate, EU institutions are less interested in some of the contributions progressive civil society offers, such as its contributions to public deliberation, governance, and the legitimacy of the EU. Progressive civil society reacts to the threat of a loss of standing and attempts to retain its historical centrality, legitimacy, and access. In contrast, conservative civil society groups seek to establish themselves in a political environment previously off-limits to them.

The institutionalisation of populist political discourse and conservative uncivil society in the European Union: From the margins to the mainstream?

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This article analyses the ideational features of conservative civil society groups at EU level and compares them to progressive groups. Through a frame...

The institutionalisation of populist political discourse and conservative uncivil society in the European Union: From the margins to the mainstream?

Published Online: Mar 03, 2021

Page range: 119 - 133

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2021-0010

Keywords
populist political discourse, civil society, public deliberation, frame analysis, EU

© 2021 Carlo Ruzza, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The institutionalisation of populist political discourse and conservative uncivil society in the European Union: From the margins to the mainstream?

Published Online: Mar 03, 2021

Page range: 119 - 133

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2021-0010

Keywordspopulist political discourse, civil society, public deliberation, frame analysis, EU

© 2021 Carlo Ruzza, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
populist political discourse, civil society, public deliberation, frame analysis, EU