Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Visual Discourse, Imagery and EU Politics

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Discourse Analysis and European Union Politics

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics ((PSEUP))

  • 1640 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter introduces the study of visual discourse and imagery into the discursive institutionalism. The chapter argues that visual discourse is especially important in a multicultural and multilingual European context. Using the literature on symbols, the chapter elaborates a fourfold understanding of the roles of imagery in politics. The visualisation of ‘green Europe’ by the European Commission and a key non-governmental organisation in this area—the European Environmental Bureau—is illustrative of the multitude roles of imagery in European Union politics. It is argued that in highly institutionalised discursive fields such as green Europe, imagery allows for identity building and the terse communication of organisational interests. Furthermore, imagery contributes to visualizing opposition amongst otherwise political collaborators, opposition, which may more than anything serve internal organizational purposes by mobilising supporters around common ideals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    All images available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/efe/archives_en & http://archive.eeb.org/index.cfm/library/?firstpublications=2&year=0&month=0&Metamorphosis=1.

References

  • Aiello, G. (2012). The “Other” Europeans: The Semiotic Imperative of Style in Euro Visions by Magnum Photos. Visual Communication, 11(1), 49–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aiello, G., & Thurlow, C. (2006). Symbolic Capitals: Visual Discourse and Intercultural Exchange in the European Capital of Culture Scheme. Language and Intercultural Communication, 6(2), 148–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, S. (2007). Sustainable Development as Symbolic Commitment: Declaratory Politics and the Seductive Appeal of Ecological Modernisation in the European Union. Environmental Politics, 16(2), 297–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleiker, R. (2015). Pluralist Methods for Visual Global Politics. Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 43(3), 872–890.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blühdorn, I. (2007). Sustaining the Unsustainable: Symbolic Politics and the Politics of Simulation. Environmental Politics, 16(2), 251–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruter, M. (2003). Winning Hearts and Minds for Europe: The Impact of News and Symbols on Civic and Cultural European Identity. Comparative Political Studies, 36(10), 1148–1179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruter, M. (2009). Time Bomb? The Dynamic Effect of News and Symbols on the Political Identity of European Citizens. Comparative Political Studies, 42(12), 1498–1536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cram, L., & Patrikios, S. (2015). Visual Primes and European Union Identity: Designing Experimental Research. In K. Lynggaard, I. Manners, & K. Löfgren, (Eds.), Research Methods in European Union Studies (pp. 184–205). Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Directorate-General for Environment. (All Issues from 2009 to 2016). Environment for Europeans. Bruxelles: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Directorate-General for Environment Interview. (2017, February). Interview with Editorial Team (Two DG Environment Employees) Editors of Magazine Environment for Europeans. Bruxelles.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2006, February 1). White Paper on a European Communication Policy (Com2006 Final 35). Bruxelles: European Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Environmental Bureau. (All Issues from 2009 to 2016). METAMORPHOSIS. Bruxelles: European Environmental Bureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Environmental Bureau Interview. (2016, March). Interview with European Environmental Bureau Communication Manager. Bruxelles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foret, F. (2009). Symbolic Dimensions of EU Legitimisation. Media, Culture and Society, 31(2), 313–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fornäs, J. (2012). Signifying Europe. Bristol, UK: Intellect.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hajer, M. A. (1995). The Politics of Environmental Discourse: Ecological Modernisation and the Policy Process. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, L. (2006). Security as Practice: Discourse Analysis and the Bosnian War. London, UK: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, L. (2015). How Images Make World Politics: International Icons and the Case of Abu Ghraib. Review of International Studies, 41, 263–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, L. (2017). Reading Comics for the Field of International Relations: Theory, Method and the Bosnian War. European Journal of International Relations, 23(3), 581–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howarth, D. (2005). Applying Discourse Theory: The Method of Articulation. In D. Howarth & J. Torfing (Eds.), Discourse Theory in European Politics: Identity, Policy and Governance (pp. 316–349). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaelberer, M. (2004). The Euro and European Identity: Symbols, Power and the Politics of European Monetary Union. Review of International Studies, 30(2), 161–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundgren, M. (2018). Taking Center Stage: Decoding Status Hierarchies from Group Photos of European Leaders. European Union Politics, 19(4), 549–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luoma-aho, M. (2004). “Arm” Versus “Pillar”: The Politics of Metaphors of the Western European Union at the 1990–91 Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union. Journal of European Public Policy, 11(1), 106–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynggaard, K., Manners, I., & Søby, C. (2014, June, 5–7). Symbols and Myths in European integration. Paper Presented at 7th Pan-European Conference on the European Union, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manners, I. (2011). Symbolism in European Integration. Comparative European Politics, 9(3), 243–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mortensen, M. (2016). “The Image Speaks for Itself”—Or Does It? Instant News Icons, Impromptu Publics, and the 2015 European “Refugee Crisis”. Communication and the Public, 1(4), 409–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obradovic, D. (1996). Policy Legitimacy and the European Union. Journal of Common Market Studies, 34(2), 191–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pribersky, A. (2006). Europe as a Symbol in Political Image Constructions. Semiotica, 159(1–4), 143–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Risse, T. (2003). The Euro Between National and European Identity. Journal of European Public Policy, 10(4), 487–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, G. (2001). Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials. New York, NY: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark

    Kennet Lynggaard

Authors
  1. Kennet Lynggaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kennet Lynggaard .

Appendices

Appendix 1: Images Scores Directorate-General for Environment—Environment for Europeans

Symbols as…

Images scores DG Environment—Environment for Europeans

Emblems

2009a(0); 2009b(0); 2009c(0); 2009d(0); 2009e(1);

2010a(1); 2010b(2); 2010c(1); 2010d(1); 2010e(1);

2011a(2); 2011b(1); 2011c(1); 2011d(1); 2011e(1);

2012e(1); 2012a(2); 2012b(2); 2012c(1); 2012d(2);

2013a(1); 2013b(2); 2013c(2); 2013d(2); 2013e(2);

2014a(1); 2014b(1); 2014c(1); 2014d(2); 2014e(0);

2015a(2); 2015b(0); 2015c(0); 2015d(0); 2015e(2);

2016a(0); 2016b(2); 2016c(2); 2016d(1); 2016e(1)

Representation

2009a(2); 2009b(2); 2009c(2); 2009d(1); 2009e(2);

2010a(0); 2010b(0); 2010c(0); 2010d(0); 2010e(0);

2011a(0); 2011b(0); 2011c(2); 2011d(2); 2011e(2);

2012e(2); 2012a(1); 2012b(1); 2012c(2); 2012d(1);

2013a(2); 2013b(0); 2013c(1); 2013d(1); 2013e(0);

2014a(0); 2014b(0); 2014c(2); 2014d(1); 2014e(2);

2015a(1); 2015b(2); 2015c(1); 2015d(1); 2015e(1);

2016a(2); 2016b(1); 2016c(0); 2016d(2); 2016e(2)

Domination

2009a(0); 2009b(0); 2009c(0); 2009d(0); 2009e(0);

2010a(0); 2010b(0); 2010c(0); 2010d(0); 2010e(0);

2011a(0); 2011b(0); 2011c(0); 2011d(0); 2011e(0);

2012e(0); 2012a(0); 2012b(0); 2012c(0); 2012d(0);

2013a(0); 2013b(0); 2013c(0); 2013d(0); 2013e(0);

2014a(0); 2014b(0); 2014c(0); 2014d(0); 2014e(0);

2015a(0); 2015b(0); 2015c(0); 2015d(0); 2015e(0);

2016a(0); 2016b(0); 2016c(0); 2016d(0); 2016e(0)

Ordering

2009a(1); 2009b(1); 2009c(1); 2009d(2); 2009e(0);

2010a(2); 2010b(1); 2010c(2); 2010d(2); 2010e(2);

2011a(1); 2011b(2); 2011c(0); 2011d(0); 2011e(0);

2012e(0); 2012a(0); 2012b(0); 2012c(0); 2012d(0);

2013a(0); 2013b(1); 2013c(0); 2013d(0); 2013e(1);

2014a(2); 2014b(2); 2014c(0); 2014d(0); 2014e(1);

2015a(0); 2015b(1); 2015c(2); 2015d(2); 2015e(0);

2016a(1); 2016b(0); 2016c(1); 2016d(0); 2016e(0)

  1. Source Directorate-General Environment magazine Environment for Europeans, all issues 2009–2016. Individual image scores appear in parentheses

Appendix 2: Images Scores European Environmental Bureau—METAMORPHOSIS

Symbols as…

Images scores EEB—METAMORPHOSIS

Emblems

2009a(1); 2009b(0); 2009c(0); 2009d(0);

2010a(2); 2010b(0); 2010c(0); 2010d(0);

2011a(0); 2011b(2); 2011c(2); 2011d(2);

2012a(1); 2012b(0); 2012c(0); 2012d(2);

2013a(2); 2013b(2); 2013c(0); 2013d(2);

2014a(0); 2014b(0); 2014c(2); 2014d(2);

2015a(0); 2015b(2); 2015c(0); 2015d(0);

2016a(1); 2016b(1); 2016c(1); 2016d(0)

Representation

2009a(0); 2009b(0); 2009c(2); 2009d(2);

2010a(0); 2010b(0); 2010c(2); 2010d(1);

2011a(2); 2011b(1); 2011c(0); 2011d(0);

2012a(2); 2012b(2); 2012c(0); 2012d(0);

2013a(0); 2013b(1); 2013c(0); 2013d(0);

2014a(1); 2014b(1); 2014c(0); 2014d(0);

2015a(1); 2015b(0); 2015c(0); 2015d(0);

2016a(2); 2016b(0); 2016c(0); 2016d(1)

Domination

2009a(0); 2009b(1); 2009c(1); 2009d(1);

2010a(0); 2010b(1); 2010c(0); 2010d(0);

2011a(1); 2011b(0); 2011c(1); 2011d(0);

2012a(0); 2012b(0); 2012c(1); 2012d(1);

2013a(0); 2013b(0); 2013c(1); 2013d(1);

2014a(0); 2014b(0); 2014c(0); 2014d(0);

2015a(2); 2015b(1); 2015c(2); 2015d(2);

2016a(0); 2016b(2); 2016c(0); 2016d(2)

Ordering

2009a(2); 2009b(2); 2009c(0); 2009d(0);

2010a(1); 2010b(2); 2010c(1); 2010d(2);

2011a(0); 2011b(0); 2011c(0); 2011d(1);

2012a(0); 2012b(1); 2012c(2); 2012d(0);

2013a(1); 2013b(0); 2013c(2); 2013d(0);

2014a(2); 2014b(2); 2014c(1); 2014d(1);

2015a(0); 2015b(0); 2015c(1); 2015d(1);

2016a(0); 2016b(0); 2016c(2); 2016d(0)

  1. Source European Environmental Bureau magazine METAMORPHOSIS, all issues 2009–2016. Individual image scores appear in parentheses

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lynggaard, K. (2019). Visual Discourse, Imagery and EU Politics. In: Discourse Analysis and European Union Politics. Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-39326-5_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation