Master Thesis, 15 Hp Master's Programme of Political Science

Master thesis, 15 hp Master’s Programme of Political Science / Master’s Thesis in Political Science, 15 hp Spring Term 2020 Abstract Using thematic analysis, this study aims to find out if this broadened use of apocalyptic narrative explanations by the current climate change movement has spread to the swedish Green Party, which was chosen because the Green Party is the political party with the closest connection to the modern climate change movement, in terms of ideas and believes but also open support for the movement. Furthermore, this thesis discusses whether or not a change in the window of political opportunities regarding policy suggestions (Overton window) could be detected in relation to this use of apocalyptic narrative explanations. As underlying material three influential representative activist’s speeches - Greta Thunberg, Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez and Luisa Neubauer - were chosen as well as the Green Party’s manifestos for the European Parliament elections of 2014 and 2019. The results show that, even though the party has noticeably increased its use of apocalyptic narrative explanations in the latter manifesto, there seems to be no serious change towards more radical or previously unthinkable policy suggestions. 2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Aim of the thesis 6 3. Previous research 6 4. Why is it important to fill this research gap? 7 5. The Overton Window Theory 8 6. Apocalyptic Narrative Explanations 10 7. Material and method 12 8. Delimitations and choice of cases 13 9. Results 15 9.1 How do the three activists apply apocalyptic narrative explanations in their speeches? 15 9.2 Thematic analysis 19 9.2.1 Taking collective/political vs individual responsibility 19 9.2.2 Thinking about the next generation 23 9.2.3 Emphasising the acuteness of climate change 26 9.2.4 Stressing today's political failures 30 9.2.5 Advocating a decrease in emissions and a switch to renewable energy 33 10. Discussion 36 11. Conclusion 40 List of References 41 Appendix 44 TRANSCRIPT 1 44 TRANSCRIPT 2 46 TRANSCRIPT 3 48 3 1. Introduction Environmental activism is undeniably not a new phenomenon anywhere on the planet. However, over the recent years environmental activism has gotten a lot of attention, not least due to swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg and her Fridays For Future movement as well as other charismatic characters in the currently active climate change movement. One important aim for these climate change movements, in addition to creating awareness and changes in behavioural patterns, is to achieve political changes in favour of their values and beliefs, for example by manifesting themselves through forms of protest. (Olzak et al. 2009. P. 203) As later identified in this study, research on social movement impact on the political sphere, tends to primarily focus on social movements influence on policy changes with the help of movement organization, movement activities, public opinion and elements of the political opportunity structure. Nevertheless, an aspect which so far has not been so common to include in this field of research is the impact the climate change movement can have on parties’ attainable policy suggestions (Overton’s window of possibilities) based on their selected use of apocalyptic narrative explanations (a rhetorical tool some representatives of the movement have been accused of applying) and themes of concern. Consequently, the focus of the following study is the impact of the climate change movement’s use of apocalyptic narrative explanations and choices of issues to talk about, on political parties. To be able to analyse this three young activists were chosen, Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer and Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez, who will be representing this modern climate change movement based on their dominant positions within today’s movement and their roles as representative speakers. To examine their potential impact on political parties, on the other hand, the Swedish Green Party was decided on, since environmental issues are at the heart of their agenda. Ergo, in theory this should be the party where the impact would be the most visible. Representative for their potential adjustment to the climate movement will be the manifestos from before and after the rise of the Fridays For Future movement in 2018. Unfortunately, neither of these manifestos have official authors, undoubtedly because the party should stand united behind its contents, which makes it difficult to ask the authors 4 directly about potential influence from the climate change movement. Nevertheless, two of the current members in the European parliament for the swedish Green Party, namely Alice Bah Kuhnke and Pär Holmgren (Europaparlamentet. 2019), who unfortunately were not available for interviews, have expressed themselves positively towards Greta Thunberg and her Fridays for Future movement. Alice Bah Kuhnke even mentioned in an interview with the swedish newsagency TV4, that the Green Party now has the chance to gain the followers as voters, stating: “What Greta Thunberg has done is fantastic. Her, along with 100 000s of children, young adults and their parents all over the world, have made that we, as politicians and political party, which was formed on the basis of environmental and climate issues, have all the reasons to actually keep on fighting for the environment and the climate. And because of [Greta Thunberg’s movement] we are so hopeful, now that there are many more who actually understand [the climate issue]. Many voters want the European Parliament to pursue powerful climate and environmental policies. So now, we [the Green Party] who formed almost 40 years ago have gotten high chances to pick up those feelings and those who want so much more.” 1 (Nyhetsmorgon. 2019. 1:50-3:03. Author’s translation) Likewise Pär Holmgren stated: “All these demonstrations are fantastically important. It is about building a critical mass in the long run and when there are enough people who want to see a change in politics, in the market and in our behaviors, then, in the end there actually will be a change. [...] It is incredibly important that this movement grows and that we reach this critical mass as quickly as possible.” 2 (Expressen. 2019. 0:45-1:41. Author’s translation) By formulating this the way Pär Holmgren did, saying the first-person plural in the last sentence, he assumed his party - and likely their voters - to be part of the climate change movement, which shows approvement of their beliefs and actions. This in turn shows, that 1 O riginal quote: “Det Greta Thunberg har gjort, det är ju något fantastiskt. Hon tillsammans med de 100 000-tals barn och unga världen över och deras föräldrar har gjort att vi som politiker och politiskt parti - som bildades utifrån miljö- och klimatfrågorna - att vi har all anledning till att faktiskt fortsätta kämpa för klimatet och miljön. Just för [Greta Thunbergs rörelse] är det så hoppfullt nu att det finns så många fler som faktiskt förstår [klimatproblemet]. Många väljare som vill att Eu-parlamentet ska driva en kraftfull klimat och miljöpolitik. Så nu har vi som bildades snart 40 år sedan fått stora chanser att fånga upp de här känslorna och de som vill så mycket.” 2 Original quote: “Alla de här demonstrationerna är ju såklart fantastiskt viktiga. Det handlar om att på sikt bygga en kritisk massa och när det blir tillräckligt många människor som vill se en förändring i politik, i marknaden och i våra beteenden så blir det faktiskt till slut också en förändring. [...] Det är ju fantastiskt viktigt att den rörelsen växer och att vi når den här kritiska massan så fort som möjligt.” 5 there is a big potential that, both the Green Party’s policy suggestions and way of conveying them to the voters has been influenced by the movement over the last couple of years. 2. Aim of the thesis The aim of this thesis is to examine whether or not the current climate change movement - in particular frontrow activists like Greta Thunberg, Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez and Luisa Neubauer - helped to shift the “Overton window of possibilities” concerning climate change policy suggestions in the swedish Green Party in a more radical direction through apocalyptic narrative explanation approaches in their speeches. To fulfil this aim the following questions will be answered: 1. How do the three activists apply apocalyptic narrative explanations in their speeches? 2. How are the different arising themes, both in the manifestos and activists’ speeches talked about and how do they apply apocalyptic narrative explanations? This will be followed up by a discussion on if a change in policy suggestions (Overton window of political opportunities) can be observed based on the findings. To clarify, the first question aims to find out what exactly we will be comparing the use of apocalyptic narrative explanations in the manifestos to, while the second question will help to present the results of the thematic analysis systematically, and thereby to find all the similarities and differences between the movement and the two manifestos. 3. Previous research Previous studies on speeches and texts about environmental issues by different actors have been highlighted by a number of researchers in different scientific disciplines, such as sociology, linguistics, and discursive/rhetorical social psychology (e.g. Macnaghten and Urry, 1998; Aiello and Bonaiuto, 2003; and Harré, Brockmeier, & Mühlhäusler, 1999). Their research has so far mainly focused on how climate change issues are produced and reproduced within public discourse, focusing in particular on social and public media (e.g. 6 Bell, 1994; Henderson-Sellers, 1998; Mormont & Dasnoy, 1995; Wilkins, 1995; Wilson, 1993; Zehr, 2000; Carvalho, 2007). In depth analyses have, for example, been conducted in areas such as the constructions of uncertainty, scientific controversy and climate scepticism within society through media representation of climate change issues (Antilla, 2005).

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