Discourse and the Far Right: Vox's Discursive Construction Ahead of the 23J Election
Authorship
S.G.C.
Bachelor of Political Science and Administration
S.G.C.
Bachelor of Political Science and Administration
Defense date
09.15.2025 17:00
09.15.2025 17:00
Summary
Far-right parties appear to have become a permanent fixture in European party systems, and Spain is no exception. Despite a context clearly favorable to bipartisanship, the Spanish far-right party Vox managed to establish itself as the third-largest electoral force in the recent general elections held on July 23. Using the tools provided by the discipline of Discourse Analysis, and from the social perspective offered by Critical Discourse Analysis, we aim to shed light on the new cognitive framework that this political force is successfully implanting in a significant portion of the electorate.
Far-right parties appear to have become a permanent fixture in European party systems, and Spain is no exception. Despite a context clearly favorable to bipartisanship, the Spanish far-right party Vox managed to establish itself as the third-largest electoral force in the recent general elections held on July 23. Using the tools provided by the discipline of Discourse Analysis, and from the social perspective offered by Critical Discourse Analysis, we aim to shed light on the new cognitive framework that this political force is successfully implanting in a significant portion of the electorate.
Direction
LAGARES DIEZ, MARIA NIEVES (Tutorships)
LAGARES DIEZ, MARIA NIEVES (Tutorships)
Court
LAGARES DIEZ, MARIA NIEVES (Student’s tutor)
LAGARES DIEZ, MARIA NIEVES (Student’s tutor)
The Political Discourse of Vox: A Thematic Analysis of Santiago Abascal Discourse
Authorship
L.M.B.
Bachelor of Political Science and Administration
L.M.B.
Bachelor of Political Science and Administration
Defense date
09.11.2025 12:00
09.11.2025 12:00
Summary
This Final Degree Project analyzes the political discourse of Santiago Abascal as a central vehicle for understanding the ideological and communicative strategy of Vox in contemporary Spain. Using a qualitative approach and tools from discourse analysis, the study examines Abascal’s public interventions to identify their main thematic axes, rhetorical strategies, and variations across different communicative contexts (rallies, parliamentary speeches, and interviews). The research demonstrates that Abascal’s discourse constructs a closed and exclusionary collective identity, based on a binary logic of confrontation between an idealized “us” and a threatening “them.” The work argues that Vox embodies the core features of the populist radical right as defined by Cas Mudde (2007): nativism, authoritarianism, and populism. Furthermore, it shows how topics such as historical memory, feminism, and immigration are instrumentalized as cultural conflict frames that appeal to collective emotions and reinforce a climate of political polarization. The study concludes that Vox’s discourse not only reflects preexisting social grievances, but actively contributes to their construction by staging a permanent state of crisis that legitimizes its political project.
This Final Degree Project analyzes the political discourse of Santiago Abascal as a central vehicle for understanding the ideological and communicative strategy of Vox in contemporary Spain. Using a qualitative approach and tools from discourse analysis, the study examines Abascal’s public interventions to identify their main thematic axes, rhetorical strategies, and variations across different communicative contexts (rallies, parliamentary speeches, and interviews). The research demonstrates that Abascal’s discourse constructs a closed and exclusionary collective identity, based on a binary logic of confrontation between an idealized “us” and a threatening “them.” The work argues that Vox embodies the core features of the populist radical right as defined by Cas Mudde (2007): nativism, authoritarianism, and populism. Furthermore, it shows how topics such as historical memory, feminism, and immigration are instrumentalized as cultural conflict frames that appeal to collective emotions and reinforce a climate of political polarization. The study concludes that Vox’s discourse not only reflects preexisting social grievances, but actively contributes to their construction by staging a permanent state of crisis that legitimizes its political project.
Direction
CASTRO MARTINEZ, PALOMA (Tutorships)
CASTRO MARTINEZ, PALOMA (Tutorships)
Court
CASTRO MARTINEZ, PALOMA (Student’s tutor)
CASTRO MARTINEZ, PALOMA (Student’s tutor)
Analysis of emotions in the polítical speech of the populist lea der
Authorship
D.P.G.
Bachelor of Political Science and Administration
D.P.G.
Bachelor of Political Science and Administration
Defense date
09.16.2025 16:00
09.16.2025 16:00
Summary
This research work explores the role of emotions in the political discourse of a populist leader, focusing on the specific case of Javier Milei, appointed president of the Argentine nation in december of 2023. Through an exhaustive coding of his speeches at key events, the predominant emotions are identified and analyzed. The results show that negative emotions, such as concern, pessimism, criticism, and frustration, dominate his rhetoric, although positive emotions such as hope, pride, and optimism are also highlighted to a lesser extent. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how populist leaders use emotions to mobilize their followers, offering valuable insights for contemporary political analysis.
This research work explores the role of emotions in the political discourse of a populist leader, focusing on the specific case of Javier Milei, appointed president of the Argentine nation in december of 2023. Through an exhaustive coding of his speeches at key events, the predominant emotions are identified and analyzed. The results show that negative emotions, such as concern, pessimism, criticism, and frustration, dominate his rhetoric, although positive emotions such as hope, pride, and optimism are also highlighted to a lesser extent. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how populist leaders use emotions to mobilize their followers, offering valuable insights for contemporary political analysis.
Direction
MO GROBA, DIEGO (Tutorships)
MO GROBA, DIEGO (Tutorships)
Court
MO GROBA, DIEGO (Student’s tutor)
MO GROBA, DIEGO (Student’s tutor)