Debasing Political Rhetoric: Dissing Opponents, Journalists, and Minorities in Populist Leadership Communication

Preface
Contents
Contributors
1 Introduction: Studying Political Debasement Discourse in the Public Sphere
1.1 Defining Political Debasement Discourse
1.2 Assessing Political Debasement
1.3 Key Factors in Political Debasement
1.4 Modes of Interaction Between Debaser(s) and Their Target(s)
1.5 Distinction Between Debasement, Incivility, and Hate Speech
1.6 Overview of the Volume
References
Part I Theoretical Background
2 Debasement Language as a Subset of Political Incivility: Characteristics and Effects
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Definitions and Types of Debasement Language in Politics
2.3 Why Is Debasement Language Used in Political Discourse?
2.4 Who Are the Recipients of Debasement Language in Political Discourse?
2.5 How Political Debasement Affects Audiences and Democratic Processes
2.6 Conclusion
References
Part II Critical Assessment of the Diversity of Debasing Language
3 Coarseness in Spanish Political Discourse: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Santiago Abascal and Pablo Casado’s Aggressive Language
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Framework: Critical Discourse Analysis
3.3 The Parliamentary Speech of Santiago Abascal
3.3.1 Insults and Personal Attacks (“Argumentum Ad Hominem”)
3.3.2 Hasty Generalizations (Red Herring Fallacy)
3.4 The Parliamentary Speech of Pablo Casado
3.4.1 Insults and Personal Attacks (“Argumentum Ad Hominem”)
3.4.2 Exaggerations and Hasty Generalizations
3.5 Conclusions
References
4 Debasing Language Expressed by Two Radical Right-Wing Populist Leaders in the Netherlands: Geert Wilders and Thierry Baudet
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Communication Styles of Far-Right Political Leaders
4.3 Digital Media, Far-Right Populism and Debasing Speech
4.4 Case Study: Debasement in the Direct Communication of Wilders and Baudet
4.4.1 Method
4.4.2 Data Collection and Sample
4.4.3 Data Analysis and Coding
4.5 Findings
4.5.1 Hostile De-legitimization of the Establishment
4.5.2 Accusations of Deception and a Lying Press
4.5.3 Nativism and Exclusionary Language
4.6 Conclusion and Discussion: Implications of Debasing Language
References
5 The Sharp-Tongued Loudmouth: Incivility and Debasement in Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro's YouTube Livestreams
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Methodology
5.3 Findings and Discussion
5.3.1 Name-Calling
5.3.2 Insulting Language
5.4 Discussion and Conclusion
References
Part III Debasement as Strategic Instrument
6 The Cuss that Cares? Paternalistic Cussing in Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Rhetoric
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Paternalistic Cussing: A Novel Approach for  Examining Duterte’s Rhetoric
6.3 Paternalistic Cussing Practices in Duterte’s Speeches
6.4 Concluding Remarks
References
7 The Shameless Normalization of Debasement Performance: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Pauline Hanson’s Australian, Far-Right, Populist Communication
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Debasement, Shamelessness, and the Far-Right
7.3 Research Approach
7.4 Case Studies
7.4.1 Racialized Debasement on Twitter
7.4.2 Debasement Through Populist Performance: The “Burqa Stunt”
7.4.3 Colonial Debasement in the Australian Parliament
7.4.4 Mediatized Debasement During COVID-19
7.5 Analysis and Discussion
7.6 Conclusion
References
8 Well-Mannered Debasement? Examining Abe Shinzô’s Discourse and Its Reliance on Japanese Communication Modes
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Methodology and Data
8.3 Results
8.3.1 Debasement as “Defense”
8.3.2 The Target of Abe’s Debasement Language
8.4 Conclusion: Debasement Needs a “Proper” Stage and Audience
References
9 Constructing Political Adversaries Through Debasement Language: A Framing Analysis of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ Greek Speeches in 2020
9.1 Introduction: The Political Context of 2020
9.1.1 Polarization and Divisive Discourse in Greek Politics
9.2 Cultural Framing and Debasement Language
9.3 Methodology
9.4 Findings
9.4.1 The Frames Employed in Mitsotakis’ Political Speeches in 2020
9.4.2 Debasement Speech as a Framing Mechanism
9.5 Discussion
References
Part IV Leaders’ Debasement Effects: Voter Mobilization, Socio-Political Polarization, and  Shaping Political Reality Perception
10 The Strategic Use of Debasing and Vulgar Language in Italy’s Contemporary Politics: Beppe Grillo and Matteo Salvini
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Beppe Grillo’s Rhetoric
10.3 Matteo Salvini’s Differentialist and Rude Messages
10.4 Conclusions: The Force of Violent and Discriminatory Language in Recent History
References
11 Demonization, Derision, Polarization: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Political Rhetoric
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Context: The Use of Debasing Language in Turkish Politics
11.3 “A Rhetoric of Abjection:” Making Sense of Erdoğan’s Political Rhetoric
11.3.1 Binarism
11.3.2 Organicism
11.3.3 Demonization
11.3.4 Social and Political Ramifications
11.4 Conclusion
References
12 Tweets, Taunts, Tirades, and Tantrums: How America’s Donald Trump Transformed Transgressive Language into Political Power
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Starting at the Beginning—Self Definition, Enemy Definition, and Recruiting
12.3 Attacking the Media
12.3.1 Attacking Mainstream Media in General
12.3.2 Attacking Individual Journalists: The Conflicts with Megyn Kelly, Serge Kovaleski, and Yamiche Alcindor
12.4 Debasing the Political Establishment and Debasing Opponents
12.4.1 Attacking Establishment Leaders
12.4.2 Attacking Rivals
12.5 Real World Results—Creating the Perception of Threat and Dehumanizing the Enemy and Thus Encouraging Violence
12.6 Conclusion—The Ultimate Debasements
References
Part V Conclusions
13 Heroes or History? The Sources, Evolution, and Future of Debasement Rhetoric
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Expanding the Debasement Typology
13.3 Research Questions
13.4 Debasement as Body Politic Illness
References
Index