Political image of Geert Wilders: Analysis of populist message on social media platform X

Marek Górka

doi:10.35765/hp.2628

Data publikacji : 2024-09-30

Tom 15 Nr 52 (2024)

Political image of Geert Wilders: Analysis of populist message on social media platform X

Marek Górka

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6964-1581

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35765/hp.2628

Dział: Vol. 15, No. 52 (2024): Wizerunek władzy – media, polityka, komunikacja

Abstrakt

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim is to analyze Geert Wilders’ activity on platform X (formerly Twitter), with the research aiming to better understand the influence of social media on contemporary politics, the image of political leaders, and the dynamics of relations between politicians and society.

THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research problem is to understand how populist political leaders, such as Geert Wilders, utilize social media, particularly platform X, to shape their political image, promote their agenda, and build relationships with voters. The research method relies on discourse analysis of selected cases (e.g., controversial posts) to understand the rhetorical strategies used by Geert Wilders. This method enables a deep understanding of the use of emotional and provocative language for mobilizing supporters and building a political image.

THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The first step was an attempt to define the relationship between the development of digital communication tools and the rise of populism. Then, characteristic elements from Geert Wilders’ biography contributing to his public image as a politician were described. The final part concerns selected elements of political narrative published on platform X.

RESEARCH RESULTS: The analysis of Geert Wilders’ statements on social media platform X reveals a coherent communication strategy aimed at building his image as a strong leader fighting for national interests and European values.

CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This analysis also underscores the significance of social media in today’s politics and the innovative potential in the realm of online political communication. It is recommended to implement media education to increase public awareness of politicians’ communication strategies and their impact on society.

Szczegóły

Bibliografia

Statystyki

Autorzy

Pobierz pliki

PDF (English)

Zasady cytowania

Wskaźniki altmetryczne

Licencja

Uwagi dotyczące praw autorskich

Autorzy publikujący w tym czasopiśmie wyrażają zgodę na następując warunki:

Autorzy zachowują prawa autorskie, przyznając czasopismu prawo do pierwszej publikacji swojego tekstu jednocześnie zarejestrowanego pod numerem licencji CC BY-ND, która pozwala innym na korzystanie z tego tekstu z uznaniem autorstwa tekstu oraz pierwotnej publikacji w tym czasopiśmie.
Autorzy proszeni są o nawiązywanie odrębnych, dodatkowych porozumień wynikających z umowy, dotyczących dystrybucji opublikowanej w czasopiśmie wersji tekstu nie na prawach wyłączności (np. opublikowanie go w repozytorium instytucji lub w innym czasopiśmie), z potwierdzeniem pierwszej publikacji w tym czasopiśmie.

Wyraża się zgodę i zachęca autorów do publikacji ich tekstu w Internecie (np. w repozytorium instytucji lub na jej stronie internetowej) przed lub podczas procesu składania tekstu jako, że może to prowadzić do korzystnych wymian oraz wcześniejszego i większego cytowania opublikowanego tekstu (Patrz The Effect of Open Access). Zalecamy wykorzystanie dowolnego portalu stowarzyszeń badawczych z niżej wymienionych:

Bibliografia

Bast, J. (2024). Managing the Image. The Visual Communication Strategy of European Right-Wing Populist Politicians on Insta-gram. Journal of Political Marketing, 23(1), 1–25.

Cebulak, P., & Lippert F. (2024). SHOCKS TO THE SYSTEM. Lessons from Geert Wilders’ Victory in the Dutch Elections. Wrocław: Col-lege of Eastern Europe.

Engesser, S., Fawzi, N., & Larsson, A. (2017). Populist online commu-nication: Introduction to the special issue. Information, Communi-cation & Society, 20, 1279–1292.

Feffer, J. (2023). The Return of the Far Right. Institute for Policy Stud-ies. https://ips-dc.org/the-return-of-the-far-right/ (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Franssen, G., & Rock, J. (2020). The Dutch star on the flag of Europe: the personalisation of national identity in Geert Wilders’ celebrity politics. Celebrity Studies, 11(3), 287–304.

Geerdink, F. (2023). In a Diverse Corner of the Netherlands, Geert Wil-ders Didn’t Win. New Lines Magazin. https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/in-a-diverse-corner-of-the-netherlands-geert-wilders-didnt-win/ (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Gulati, G., & Williams, C. (2013). Social media and campaign 2012 developments and trends for Facebook adoption. Social Science Computer Review, 31(5), 577–588.

Herman, Y. (2017). A history of Dutch populism, from the murder of Pim Fortuyn to the rise of Geert Wilders. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/a-history-of-dutch-populism-from-the-murder-of-pim-fortuyn-to-the-rise-of-geert-wilders-74483 (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Hülsemann, L., Camut, N., & Ngendakumana, P.E. (2023). Euroskep-tics applaud shock Wilders win in Dutch election. Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/euroskeptic-cheer-shock-geert-wilders-dutch-election/ (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Jungherr, A. (2016). Twitter use in election campaigns: A systematic literature review. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 13(1), 72–91.

Kapoor, R.S. (2023). From Javier Milei to Geert Wilders: How liberals malign conservative leaders. First Post. https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/from-javier-milei-to-geert-wilders-how-liberals-malign-conservative-leaders-13426542.html (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Kemal Rijken, K. (2023). How Mark Rutte and his party gambled and lost in the Dutch elections. Aspenia Online, https://aspeniaonline.it/how-mark-rutte-and-his-party-gambled-and-lost-in-the-dutch-elections/a (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Kligler-Vilenchik, N., Kedem, M. de V., Maier, D., & Stoltenberg, D. (2021). Mobilization vs. Demobilization Discourses on Social Me-dia. Political Communication, 38(5), 561–580.

Klinger, U., & Svensson, J. (2015). The emergence of network media logic in political communication: A theoretical approach. New Media & Society, 17(8), 1241–1257.

Kruikemeier, S. (2014). How political candidates use twitter and the impact on votes. Computers in Human Behavior, 34, 131–139.

Moore, M. (2022). Stacey Abrams’ spending questioned after manager reveals campaign’s $1M debt. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2022/12/19/stacey-abrams-campaign-reportedly-1-million-in-debt-after-midterm-loss/(accessed on 22th Octo-ber 2023).

Mudde, C. (2016). Europe’s populist surge: A long time in the ma king. Foreign Affairs, 95, 25–30.

Muis, I., van Schie, G., Wieringa, M. & de Winkel, T. (2019). ‘Libera-tion Begins with Stating the Facts’: Framing Statistics and Infor-mation Bricolage in Geert Wilders’ Twitter Practice. Open Library of Humanities, 5(1), 1–31.

Nai, A., & Maier, J. (2024). The Wrath of Candidates. Drivers of Fear and Enthusiasm Appeals in Election Campaigns across the Globe. Journal of Political Marketing, 23(1), 74–91.

Nai, A., & Martinez, I., Coma, F. (2019). The Personality of Populists: Provocateurs, Charismatic Leaders, or Drunken Dinner Guests? West European Politics, 42(7), 1337–1367.

Nørgaard, A.S., & Klemmensen, R. (2019). The Personalities of Dan-ish MPs: Trait-and Aspect-Level Differences. Journal of Personali-ty, 87(2), 267–275.

Sauer, P. (2023). Geert Wilders: the Dutch far-right figurehead sending a chill across Europe. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/22/geert-wilders-profile-netherlands-elections-far-right (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Sayan-Cengiz, F., & Tekin, C. (2022). Gender, Islam and nativism in populist radical-right posters: visualizing ‘insiders’ and ‘outsid-ers’. Patterns of Prejudice, 56(1), 61–93.

Segers, I.B. (2023). Landslide victory for Geert Wilders – but can he form a government? The Loop, https://theloop.ecpr.eu/landslide-victory-for-geert-wilders-but-can-he-form-a-government/(accessed on 22th October 2023).

Serrano-Puche, J. (2021). Digital disinformation and emotions: ex-ploring the social risks of affective polarization. International Re-view of Sociology, 31(2), 231–245.

Smit, L. (2023). Far right, anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders wins mas-sive victory in Dutch elections. ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-23/geert-wilders-wins-massive-victory-in-dutch-elections/103140464 (accessed on 22th Oc-tober 2023).

Van der Pas, D., de Vries, C. & van der Brug, W. (2011). A leader without a party: Exploring the relationship between Geert Wil-ders’ leadership performance in the media and his electoral suc-cess. Party Politics, 19(3), 458–476.

Van Kessel, S., & Castelein, R. (2016). Shifting the blame Populist politicians’ use of Twitter as a tool of opposition. Journal of Con-temporary European Research, 12, 594–614.

Venus, A., Intyaswati, D., & Prihatiningsih, W. (2023). The role of cognitive elaboration in social media political information con-sumption and persuasion. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(1), 1–13.

Veuger, S. (2023). Populist Rage Gives Dutch Far Right a Worrying Shot at Power. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/11/27/netherlands-dutch-election-coalition-geert-wilders-pvv-far-right/ (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Wang, S., Wan, Q., & Wang, G. (2022). Building public support by internet regulations in China? Evidence based on quasi-natural experiment. Journal of Asian Public Policy, 1–19.

Windsor, M.P.J. (2023). The Victory of the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders and the Crisis of Western Values. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/victory-netherlands-geert-wilders-crisis-western-values-opinion-1850185 (accessed on 22th October 2023).

Zhang, Y., Lukito, J., Suk, J. & McGrady, R. (2024). Trump, Twitter, and Truth Social: how Trump used both mainstream and alt-tech social media to drive news media attention. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 1–14.

Zulli, D., & McKasy, M. (2020). Political equivocation in a less-adversarial campaign context. Communication Research Re-ports, 37(4), 202–211.

Total abstract views : 80

PDF Downloads : 51