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“A coal phase out is socially unjust and dangerous” : a critical analysis of the populist radical right opposition to the German coal phase-out

Dietschmann, Ronja LU (2020) HEKM51 20201
Human Geography
Human Ecology
Abstract
This thesis takes on a case study approach and investigates the populist radical right party Alternative für Deutschland’s opposition towards the coal phase-out in Germany. The party is known for its contrarian position towards (human-made) climate change. Drawing on literature that investigates the populist radical right as well as climate change denial (also referred to as ‘scepticism’), a framing analysis of various communication material of the party was conducted. The findings illustrate that the party portrays the phase-out as a threat towards the national economy and as socially unjust for people in the nation, while the impact of the German coal industry on climate change was downplayed or even denied. The party opened up a divide... (More)
This thesis takes on a case study approach and investigates the populist radical right party Alternative für Deutschland’s opposition towards the coal phase-out in Germany. The party is known for its contrarian position towards (human-made) climate change. Drawing on literature that investigates the populist radical right as well as climate change denial (also referred to as ‘scepticism’), a framing analysis of various communication material of the party was conducted. The findings illustrate that the party portrays the phase-out as a threat towards the national economy and as socially unjust for people in the nation, while the impact of the German coal industry on climate change was downplayed or even denied. The party opened up a divide between ‘the innocent people’ and the ‘political elite’, in which mainly the government and the expert commission on coal were held responsible for the threats that the coal phase-out would bring about. The AfD created a picture that might lead to a perception of the citizens of the coal phase-out as unjust, without effect, and driven by the elite at the expense of the general good of the nation. The study suggests that countries that carry out energy transitions must find new participative ways in order to avoid (perceived) inequalities within the country where the climate policy is implemented to make sure that national economic and social justice concerns cannot overvalue the importance of phasing- out fossil fuels and demands for global climate justice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dietschmann, Ronja LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM51 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Alternative für Deutschland, German coal phase-out, climate change denial, populist radical right, environmental privilege, human ecology, framing analysis
language
English
id
9026477
date added to LUP
2020-09-15 08:45:49
date last changed
2020-09-15 08:45:49
@misc{9026477,
  abstract     = {{This thesis takes on a case study approach and investigates the populist radical right party Alternative für Deutschland’s opposition towards the coal phase-out in Germany. The party is known for its contrarian position towards (human-made) climate change. Drawing on literature that investigates the populist radical right as well as climate change denial (also referred to as ‘scepticism’), a framing analysis of various communication material of the party was conducted. The findings illustrate that the party portrays the phase-out as a threat towards the national economy and as socially unjust for people in the nation, while the impact of the German coal industry on climate change was downplayed or even denied. The party opened up a divide between ‘the innocent people’ and the ‘political elite’, in which mainly the government and the expert commission on coal were held responsible for the threats that the coal phase-out would bring about. The AfD created a picture that might lead to a perception of the citizens of the coal phase-out as unjust, without effect, and driven by the elite at the expense of the general good of the nation. The study suggests that countries that carry out energy transitions must find new participative ways in order to avoid (perceived) inequalities within the country where the climate policy is implemented to make sure that national economic and social justice concerns cannot overvalue the importance of phasing- out fossil fuels and demands for global climate justice.}},
  author       = {{Dietschmann, Ronja}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“A coal phase out is socially unjust and dangerous” : a critical analysis of the populist radical right opposition to the German coal phase-out}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}