Shades of Populism

Anti-Migrant Rhetoric in Political Discourse in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, 2020-2024

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.22.2025.97.11

Keywords:

populism, anti-immigration rhetoric, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden

Abstract

The paper discusses anti-immigrant rhetoric in three countries: the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, covering the period of 2020 – 2024. Based on an in-depth analysis of the statements issued by leading politicians of the countries and civic expressions in the form of protests and demonstrations, some common traits can be identified as leading motives in the public populistic discourse. The three shades of populism have, however, their distinctions stemming from cultural, political and economic specifics of the countries. Deconstructing of the internal pattern of the populistic discourse may help liberal democracies respond effectively to the challenges posed by simplistic and thus often misleading rhetoric.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Monika Banaś, Jagiellonian University

    An Associate Professor at the Institute of Intercultural Studies, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow/Poland. Her research interests include migration and integration processes, mutual dependences of politics, economy and culture, cultural dimension in welfare state design, and political communication. She holds a PhD degree in American Studies and a post- doctoral degree (doctor habilitus) in political science.

References

Austin J.L., How to Do Things with Words, Oxford 1975. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198245537.001.0001
View in Google Scholar

Baggio A.M., “Populism and Its Definitions: Interpretations and Perspectives of a Multifaceted Political Model,” in A.M. Baggio, M.-G. Baldarelli, S.O. Idowu (eds), Populism and Accountability: Interdisciplinary Researches on Active Citenship, Cham 2023, pp. 9-53, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20032-8_2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20032-8_2
View in Google Scholar

Banaś M., “Changing the Course – The Role of the Internet and New Media in Reshaping the Polish Political Scene: The Case of the Presidential Elections of 2015,” in Contours of the Future: Technology and Innovation in Cultural Context, Saint-Petersburg 2017, pp. 88-95, at https://english.spbstu.ru/media/news/nauka_i_innovatsii/polytech-contours-future/.
View in Google Scholar

Banaś M. (ed.), “Ellen Key i szwedzki ‘dom ludu’ (folkhemmet),” in Kobiety w polityce, Kraków 2017, pp. 197-210, https://doi.org/10.12797/9788376389202.11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12797/9788376389202.11
View in Google Scholar

Banaś M., “Migrant Integration Policy in Sweden after 2015: A Revised Approach in the Shadow of the Migration Crisis,” Fuori Luogo: Journal of Sociology of Territory, Tourism, Technology, vol. 9, no. 1 (2021), pp. 69-85, https://doi.org/10.6093/2723-9608/7916.
View in Google Scholar

Blaney A., “Woman Arrested after Protest over Temporary Refugee Stay in Drimnagh School,” Irish Independent, 4 January 2023, at https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/woman-arrested-after-protest-over-temporary-refugee-stay-in-drimnaghschool/42262726.html.
View in Google Scholar

Bourne A., Olsen T.V., “Tolerant and Intolerant Responses to Populist Parties: Who Does What, When and Why?,” Comparative European Politics, vol. 21 (2023), pp. 725-741, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41295-023-00335-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41295-023-00335-7
View in Google Scholar

Brennan M., “Three Out of Four Think Ireland Has Taken Too Many Refugees,” Business Post, 27 May 2023, at https://www.businesspost.ie/news/red-c-poll-three-out-offour-think-ireland-has-taken-too-many-refugees/.
View in Google Scholar

Caiani M., Graziano P., “The Three Faces of Populism in Power: Polity, Policies and Politics,” Government and Opposition: An International Journal of Comparative Politics, vol. 57, no. 4 (2022), pp. 569-588, https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2022.4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2022.4
View in Google Scholar

Carroll R., “There Is No Room’: Anti-Immigration Protesters March in Dublin,” The Guardian, 22 January 2023, at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/22/anti-immigration-protesters-march-dublin-ireland-refugees.
View in Google Scholar

Casciani D., “Rishi Sunak’s Migration Plan Raises Big Questions,” BBC, 13 December 2022, at https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63965141.
View in Google Scholar

Cummings S. et al., “Critical Discourse Analysis of Perspectives on Knowledge and the Knowledge Society within the Sustainable Development Goals,” Development Policy Review, vol. 36, no. 6 (2018), pp. 727-742, https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12296. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12296
View in Google Scholar

Cunningham P., “Govt estimates Hosting Ukrainian Refugees Next Year Will Cost €2.5bn,” RTE News, 29 March 2022, at https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0329/1289013-cabinet/.
View in Google Scholar

Dai Y., Kustov A., “The (In)Effectiveness of Populist Rhetoric: A Conjoint Experiment of Campaign Messaging,” Political Science Research and Methods, vol. 12, no. 4 (2024), pp. 849-856, https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2023.55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2023.55
View in Google Scholar

Deborg G., The Society of the Spectacle, New York 1994.
View in Google Scholar

van Dijk T.A., “Principles of Critical Discourse Analysis,” Discourse & Society, vol. 4, no. 2 (1993), pp. 249-283, https://doi.org/10.1177/0957926593004002006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0957926593004002006
View in Google Scholar

“Dublin Riot Highlights ‘Far-Right’ Agitation over Ireland Immigration,” France 24, 25 November 2023, at https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231125-dublin-riot-highlights-far-right-agitation-over-ireland-immigration.
View in Google Scholar

Eatwell R., Goodwin M., National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy, London 2018.
View in Google Scholar

Elgenius G., Rydgren J., “The Sweden Democrats and the Ethno-Nationalist Rhetoric of Decay and Betrayal,” Sociologisk Forskning, vol. 54, no. 4 (2017), pp. 353-358. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37062/sf.54.18235
View in Google Scholar

Erickson M., Science, Culture and Society: Understanding Science in the 21st Century, Cambridge 2005.
View in Google Scholar

“EU Referendum Results,” The Electoral Commission, 30 June 2016, at https://web.archive.org/web/20160630063455/https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-informationby-subject/elections-and-referendums/upcoming-elections-and-referendums/eu-referendum/electorate-and-count-information.
View in Google Scholar

Fairclough N., Language and Power, London 1989.
View in Google Scholar

Féron É., “Prisoners of History? British-Irish Relations and the Conflict in Northern Ireland,” European Review of International Studies, vol. 1, no. 3 (2014), pp. 94-109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3224/eris.v1i3.19126
View in Google Scholar

Fleck L., Genesis and Development of a Scientific Fact, Chicago 1979.
View in Google Scholar

Francis S., “Rishi Sunak Pressured to Back Immigration Minister’s Migration Plans,” BBC, 29 September 2023, at https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67568637.
View in Google Scholar

Funke M., Schularick M., Trebesch Ch., The Cost of Populism: Evidence from History: ECONtribute Policy Brief, No. 015, Bonn–Cologne 2021.
View in Google Scholar

Graham-Campbell J., Ryan M. (eds), Anglo-Saxon/Irish Relations before the Vikings, Oxford 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5871/bacad/9780197264508.001.0001
View in Google Scholar

Harteveld E. et al. “Multiple Roots of the Populist Radical Right: Support for the Dutch PVV in Cities and the Countryside,” European Journal of Political Research, vol. 61, no. 2 (2021), pp. 440-461, https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12452. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12452
View in Google Scholar

“Has Multiculturalism Failed in Germany?,” BBC, 18 October 2010, at https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-11562477/.
View in Google Scholar

Hiebert K., “Tech-Fuelled Inequality Could Catalyze Populism 2.0,” Center for International Governance Innovation, 19 October 2022, at https://www.cigionline.org/articles/tech-fuelled-inequality-could-catalyze-populism-20/.
View in Google Scholar

Honeycombe-Foster M., “Rishi Sunak’s in Crisis over Immigration: WTF Happens Next?,” Politico, 11 December 2023, at https://www.politico.eu/article/british-pm-rishi-sunak-crisis-immigration-wtf-happens-next-rwanda-plan/.
View in Google Scholar

Hunger S., Paxton F., “What’s in a Buzzword? A Systematic Review of the State of Populism Research in Political Science,” Political Science Research and Methods, vol. 10, no. 3 (2022), pp. 617-633, https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2021.44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/psrm.2021.44
View in Google Scholar

“Ireland’s Far-Right Groups Influenced by American Far-Right Extremists, New Report Finds,” Irish Central, 22 August 2022, at https://www.irishcentral.com/news/ireland-far-right-hate-extremist-groups.
View in Google Scholar

“It’s Costing You Billions,” Migration Watch UK, 28 September 2022, at https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/news/2022/09/28/its-costing-you-billions/.
View in Google Scholar

Kaltwasser C.R. et al. (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Populism, Oxford 2017, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198803560.001.0001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198803560.001.0001
View in Google Scholar

Kerr R., Robinson S., Sliwa M., “The Discursive Work of Populist Politicians: An Historical Perspective on English Populism,” Academy of Management Proceedings, no. 1. (2021), https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2021.15150abstract. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2021.15150abstract
View in Google Scholar

Krämer B., “Populism, Media, and the Form of Society,” Communication Theory, vol. 28, no. 4 (2018), pp. 444-465, https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qty017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qty017
View in Google Scholar

Kristdemokraterna, Hela Sverige ska fungera, Stockholm 2022.
View in Google Scholar

Kübler D., Strebel M.A., Marcinkowski F., “Populism and the Scales of Statehood: Localism and Populist Attitudes in Western Europe,” European Political Science Review, vol. 16, no. 3 (2024), pp. 431-447, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755773923000395. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755773923000395
View in Google Scholar

Kuhn Th.S., The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago 1962.
View in Google Scholar

Kyle J., Mounk Y., The Populist Harm to Democracy: An Empirical Assessment, London 2018.
View in Google Scholar

Lamour Ch., “A Radical-Right Populist Definition of Cross-National Regionalism in Europe: Shaping Power Geometries at the Regional Scale beyond State Borders,” International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, vol. 46, no. 1 (2022), pp. 8-25, https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.13052. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.13052
View in Google Scholar

Landberg R., Wickham A., “Sunak Says UK Making Progress against ‘Small Boat’ Migration,”Bloomberg, 2 January 2024, at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-01/sunak-says-uk-making-progress-against-small-boat-migration.
View in Google Scholar

Lawless J., “Rishi Sunak Faces a Revolt in the UK Parliament over His Immigration Policy,” PBS News, 11 December 2023, at https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/rishi-sunak-faces-a-revolt-in-the-uk-parliament-over-his-immigration-policy.
View in Google Scholar

van Leeuwen T., “Critical Discourse Analysis,” in Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics, 2006, pp. 290-294. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/00501-0
View in Google Scholar

Liberalerna, Maktskifte för ett nytt Sverige: Liberalernas valmanifest 2022, Stockholm 2022.
View in Google Scholar

Malkopoulou A., Moffitt B., “How Not to Respond to Populism,” Comparative European Politics,vol. 21 (2023), pp. 848-865, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41295-023-00341-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41295-023-00341-9
View in Google Scholar

Margalit Y., Raviv S., Solodoch O., “The Cultural Origins of Populism,” SSRN (2022), pp. 1-36, https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4001543. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4001543
View in Google Scholar

McDermott S., “Three New Anti-Immigrant Parties Have Registered to Stand in Irish Elections – But Who Are They?,” The Journal, 29 January 2024, at https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-anti-immigrant-far-right-parties-elections-2024-6281821-Jan2024/.
View in Google Scholar

McGarry P., McGreevy R., “Anti-Immigrant Rally in Finglas ‘Totally Unrepresentative’ of Community, Locals Say,” The Irish Times, 2 February 2023, at https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2023/02/02/anti-immigrant-rally-in-finglas-totally-unrepresentative-of-community-locals-say/.
View in Google Scholar

“Merkel Says German Multicultural Society Has Failed,” BBC, 17 October 2010, at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11559451.
View in Google Scholar

“Merkel wusste 2015, dass ‘nicht täglich 10.000 kommen können,’” Welt, 30 October 2021, at https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article234744364/Fluechtlingskrise-Merkelwusste-2015-dass-nicht-taeglich-10-000-kommen-koennen.html.
View in Google Scholar

“Migrants in the UK: An Overview,” The Migration Observatory, 9 August 2024, at https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/migrants-in-the-uk-an-overview.
View in Google Scholar

“Migration in Sweden – Statistics & Facts,” Statista, 10 July 2024, at https://www.statista.com/topics/7687/migration-and-integration-in-sweden,19 September 2024.
View in Google Scholar

Mills G., “The Problem with Populism,” The Brenthurst Foundation, 23 November 2018, at https://www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org/news/the-problem-with-populism/.
View in Google Scholar

Moffitt B., The Global Rise of Populism: Performance, Political Style, and Representation, Stanford 2016, https://doi.org/10.11126/stanford/9780804796132.003.0008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11126/stanford/9780804796132.001.0001
View in Google Scholar

Morgan M., “A Cultural Sociology of Populism,” International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, vol. 35 (2022), pp. 179-199, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10767-020-09366-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10767-020-09366-4
View in Google Scholar

Mudde C., Kaltwasser C.R., Populism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford 2017, https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780190234874.001.0001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780190234874.001.0001
View in Google Scholar

Mudde C., Kaltwasser C.R., “Studying Populism in Comparative Perspective: Reflections on the Contemporary and Future Research Agenda,” Comparative Political Studies, vol. 51,no. 13 (2018), pp. 1667-1693, https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414018789490. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414018789490
View in Google Scholar

Müller J.-W., What Is Populism?, Philadelphia 2016. https://doi.org/10.9783/9780812293784. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9783/9780812293784
View in Google Scholar

“‘Multikulti ist tot!,’” DW, 16 October 2010, at https://www.dw.com/de/merkel-erkl%C3%A4rt-multikulti-f%C3%BCr-gescheitert/a-6118143.
View in Google Scholar

Ostiguy P., Panizza F., Moffitt B. (eds), Populism in Global Perspective: A Performative and Discursive Approach, New York 2021, https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003110149. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003110149
View in Google Scholar

Polismyndigheten, Lägesbild över utsatta områden, Stockholm 2023.
View in Google Scholar

“Population and Migration Estimates, April 2023,” Central Statistics Office, at https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-pme/populationandmigrationestimatesapril2023/keyfindings.
View in Google Scholar

“President Michael D Higgins Condemns Those ‘Sowing Hate and Building Fear’ around Refugeesas Poll Shows 56pc Believe Ireland ‘Took in Too Many,’” Irish Independent, 5 February 2023, at https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/president-michael-dhiggins-condemns-those-sowing-hate-and-building-fear-around-refugees-as-poll-shows-56pc-believe-ireland-took-in-too-many/42328205.html.
View in Google Scholar

Prime Minister’s Office, Sunak R., “PM’s Remarks on Illegal Migration,” gov.uk, 7 December 2023, at https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pms-remarks-on-illegal-migration-7-december-2023.
View in Google Scholar

Rheindorf M., “Rhetorics, Discourse and Populist Politics,” in A. De Fina, A. Georgakopoulou (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of Discourse Studies, Cambridge 2020, pp. 622-643, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108348195.029. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108348195.029
View in Google Scholar

Santaniello R., “Populism and European Institutions: A Historical Perspective,” in C. Ruzza, C. Berti, P. Cossarini (eds), The Impact of Populism on European Institutions and Civil Society, Cham 2021, pp. 45-66, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73411-4_3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73411-4_3
View in Google Scholar

Schank R.C., Abelson R.P., Scripts, Plans, Goals, and Understanding: An Inquiry into Human Knowledge Structures, New York 1977, https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203781036. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203781036
View in Google Scholar

Searle J.R., Expression and Meaning: Studies in the Theory of Speech Acts, Cambridge 1979, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511609213. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511609213
View in Google Scholar

Searle J.R., Making the Social World: The Structure of Human Civilization, Oxford 2010, https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780195396171.001.0001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:osobl/9780195396171.001.0001
View in Google Scholar

Sorensen L., “Populism in Communications Perspective: Concepts, Issues, Evidence,” in R. Heinisch, C. Holtz-Bacha, O. Mazzoleni (eds), Political Populism: A Handbook, 2021, pp. 383-398, https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748907510-381. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748907510-381
View in Google Scholar

“Stockholms Tunnelbana,” People, at https://people.kth.se/~e95_lra/tunnelbana/gamla/huvud.html.
View in Google Scholar

“Sveriges regering,” Regeringskansliets, at https://www.regeringen.se/sveriges-regering/.
View in Google Scholar

“Sweden: Anger Mounts over Anti-Begging Campaign,” BBC, 4 August 2015, at https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-33775594.
View in Google Scholar

Taggart P., Populism, London 2000.
View in Google Scholar

“Våra viktigaste frågor,” Kristdemokraterna Leksand, at https://wp.kristdemokraterna.se/leksand/var-politik/vara-viktigaste-fragor/.
View in Google Scholar

Weyland K., “Populism’s Threat to Democracy: Comparative Lessons for the United States,” Perspectives on Politics, vol. 18, no. 2 (2020), pp. 389-406, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592719003955. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592719003955
View in Google Scholar

“Why Is Immigration at Record Levels since Brexit?,” Sky News, 7 December 2023, at https://news.sky.com/video/migration-rise-what-do-the-numbers-tell-us-13014552.
View in Google Scholar

“Why Is Populism on the Rise?,” European Commission, 25 July 2022, at https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/436598-why-is- populism-on-the-rise.
View in Google Scholar

Wickham A., “Bruised Sunak Survives Key Vote on His UK Immigration Policy,” Bloomberg News, 17 January 2024, at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-17/bruised-sunak-survives-key-vote-on-his-uk-immigration-policy.
View in Google Scholar

Williams M.A. (ed.), Cultures of Populism: Institutions, Practices and Resistance, London 2022, https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003152606. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003152606
View in Google Scholar

Wishlade F., The Rise of Populism, Regional Disparities and the Regional Policy Response, Glasgow 2019.
View in Google Scholar

Wodak R. (ed.), Language, Power and Ideology: Studies in Political Discourse, Amsterdam 1989. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/ct.7
View in Google Scholar

Wuttke A., Schimpf C., Schoen H., “When the Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: On the Conceptualization and Measurement of Populist Attitudes and Other Multidimensional Constructs,” American Political Science Review, vol. 114, no. 2 (2020), pp. 356-374, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055419000807. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055419000807
View in Google Scholar

Downloads

Published

03-09-2025

How to Cite

“Shades of Populism: Anti-Migrant Rhetoric in Political Discourse in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden, 2020-2024”. 2025. Politeja 22 (3(97): 229-51. https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.22.2025.97.11.