Political rhetoric, populism, leadership and intercultural communication
Original version
Vaagan RWV: Political rhetoric, populism, leadership and intercultural communication. In: Silis J, Dreijers, Silga, Vekracis. Bridging Languages and Cultures. Proceedings from EU-funded conference BLC II, September 2019, Ventspils, Latvia, 2020. Frank & Timme GmBh Verlag p. 227-244Abstract
Taking as a starting point a politically motivated mass killing in Norway in 2011, the article argues that this was not an isolated incident but forms part of a broader European surge of right-wing extremism and populist political rhetoric. These have become manifest in many parts of Europe and other regions in recent years, including the Christchurch killings in March 2019 in New Zealand. Against this backdrop, some reflections are offered on challenges to political leadership in democratic societies and how intercultural communication studies can assist in the analysis of political right-wing rhetoric and populism.