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Analyzing pro-vax discourse during the pandemic:Techno-scientism, elitism, anti-populism
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
27
Publication Issue
4
Pages
Editors
Keywords
COVID-19
Techno-scientific discourse
anti-populism
elitism
post-truth
Communication
Techno-scientific discourse
anti-populism
elitism
post-truth
Communication
Files
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/28741
Abstract
This article investigates pro-vax discourse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expert and political discussions about the pandemic are abundant, commonly focusing on anti-vax and science-skeptic politics and further connecting them with post-truth and populism. However, research on pro-vax discourse remains largely overlooked. The article focuses on the case of Cyprus which received little scholarly attention in the context of the pandemic, especially by political science and media and communication scholarship. Applying discourse analysis to 120 media units that connect the articulations of scientific experts, politicians and journalists, empirical findings show that the discursive management of the pandemic takes place in the name of science, reason and responsibility, with key mechanisms of persuasion being the moralistic and fear-mongering narratives that place the responsibility for the return to normality on individual citizens. This highlights that communication about COVID-19 is not merely about healthcare and science. Rather, it is politicized and disciplinary in nature. The examination of the case of Cyprus alongside existing theories and debates reveals the internationally salient character of discursive features and patterns including the hegemony of techno-scientific objectivism, epistemological elitism and anti-populism.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2024-07-28
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1080/10714421.2024.2378576