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Volume 21, Issue 2
  • ISSN 1569-2159
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Abstract

Abstract

In this article we introduce our special issue of the on the (de)legitimisation of Europe. We start by outlining the rationale and research that led us to the special issue. In Section 2 we set out the contextual framing of the contributions, i.e., the crisis of legitimacy that European institutions and indeed the entire European project, have faced for the last decade and a half; crises that have been brought about by different events and actors and have resulted in centrifugal and centripetal processes. Next, we outline our theoretical approach to legitimation, which combines politico-sociological perspectives with discursive and communicative ones. This is followed by Section 4, which introduces and weaves together the contributions to the special issue. Finally, in Section 5 we briefly discuss the findings with regard to the aims and goals of the issue and also suggest potential next research steps.

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2022-02-02
2023-06-01

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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): COVID; crisis; discourse analysis; Europe; European Union; language; legitimacy; legitimation; mediatisation; politicisation

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