You’re gonna have to serve somebody: A comparative analysis of the Polish, Danish and Cypriot EU Presidency discourses

Abstract:

How do the communicative events of the Trio Presidencies of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus contribute to the reproduction or transformation of the EU’s social and political order? This research question is addressed by comparing the discourses of the three consecutive Polish, Danish and Cypriot EU Presidencies in the period between 2011 and 2012, using a Fairclough-inspired analytical framework.

The overall hegemonic EU discourses identified in this time period are characterized as follows: ‘more Europe’ and ‘more European integration is the only way out of the economic crisis’. However, the three Presidencies attach different meanings to this discourse. The key order of discourse of the Polish Presidency is ‘More Europe' safeguards freedom and democracy’; the mantra of the Danish Presidency is ‘More Europe' through tangible results’; and last, the key order of discourse of the Cypriot Presidency is: ‘More Europe' through more solidarity and social cohesion’.

To a certain extent, these differences in the meaning of the hegemonic discourse reflect the interests and ideological foundations of the national governments responsible for the Presidencies; however, this relationship is far from straightforward.