Political rhetoric, populism, leadership and intercultural communication

Abstract

Taking as a starting point a politically motivated mass killing in Norway in 2011, the article argues that this was not an isolated incident but forms part of a broader European surge of right-wing extremism and populist political rhetoric. These have become manifest in many parts of Europe and other regions in recent years, including the Christchurch killings in March 2019 in New Zealand. Against this backdrop, some reflections are offered on challenges to political leadership in democratic societies and how intercultural communication studies can assist in the analysis of political right-wing rhetoric and populism. ; acceptedVersion