War with words: A linguistic stylistic analysis of radical right rhetoric on migration

Language is not simply descriptive of social reality, it also constructs reality. The effects of language in shaping our perception and views are subtle, as language operates largely unconsciously. As such, language is an effective tool for manipulating political messages. Politicians can use language strategically, by carefully constructing sentences and choosing from a range of rhetorical means that can attract attention and reinforce the argumentation of the speaker. Language can also help in making extreme messages sound more appealing to broader audiences. Despite the importance of such linguistic stylistic elements in convincing people of delicate matters such as migration and anti-Islamic views, the field of political communication has so far largely overlooked the stylistic aspects of language. This papers offers an analysis of the rhetorical means that are employed by radical right party leaders in six Western-European countries. I apply a systematic linguistic-stylistic analysis of content of nine party leaders posted across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and describe how politicians carefully craft their online speech, using different rhetorical strategies, when they talk about migrants. This paper consequently links the findings to the individual style of politicians, as well as the offline and online discursive opportunities that shape these nativist narratives.