One of Us: Identity-Claims and Discursive Strategies of Dutch Party Leaders in Political Speech

Authors

  • Charlot E. Lugtigheid
    Department of Sociology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Jacquelien van Stekelenburg
    Department of Sociology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Hans J. C. J. Boutellier
    Department of Political Science & Public Administration, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract

This study investigates the identity-claims utilized by ten Dutch party leaders within a multi-party political system, explores whether and how identity-claims enable polarization and endanger democratic societies. We analyze the identity-claims of the party leaders during eight political events within a period of 18 months before and after the March 2021 Parliamentary election. Using insights from critical discourse analysis, the Five Step Social Identity Model of the Development of Collective Hate, and the theory of identity leadership, we illustrate in an analytical approach: how party leaders (1) use identity-claims to position themselves as “category prototypes”, (2) draw “category boundaries” by redefining who does and does not belong, and (3) strategically use social identities by means of discursive strategies to express their political viewpoints. These three steps help us to demonstrate how the identity-claims of diverse party leaders in combination with discursive strategies might enable polarization.