Scholarlink

<p>In March 2019, the Dutch right-wing politician Thierry Baudet won the provincial elections by a&#xa0;landslide. Baudet’s party, Forum voor Democratie (Forum for Democracy), is characterized by Euroskepticism, COVID&#xa0;19 conspiracy theories, anti-immigration policies, and anti-environmental skepticism, overlayed with Christian-inspired conservatism. In his political speeches and interviews, Baudet is well-known for identifying environmental activism as a&#xa0;false religion whose ‘high priests’ are driving the masses into undeserved guilt. Even though Baudet’s political influence has been waning in recent years, his rhetoric is exemplary for Dutch climate skeptics, who utilize a&#xa0;religious vocabulary to criticize environmental activism. In this article, as a&#xa0;case study, I&#xa0;want to present an analysis of Baudet’s infamous ‘Owl of Minerva’ victory speech held in March 2019. It is not only illustrative of Baudet’s religion-inspired anti-environmental rhetoric, but the speech itself marked a&#xa0;turning-point in the Dutch public debate concerning the social and political acceptability of this rhetoric.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Minerva’s Owl. Religion-inspired environmental skepticism. The case of Thierry Baudet

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年3月23日

查看全文
  • Frank G. Bosman

摘要

In March 2019, the Dutch right-wing politician Thierry Baudet won the provincial elections by a landslide. Baudet’s party, Forum voor Democratie (Forum for Democracy), is characterized by Euroskepticism, COVID 19 conspiracy theories, anti-immigration policies, and anti-environmental skepticism, overlayed with Christian-inspired conservatism. In his political speeches and interviews, Baudet is well-known for identifying environmental activism as a false religion whose ‘high priests’ are driving the masses into undeserved guilt. Even though Baudet’s political influence has been waning in recent years, his rhetoric is exemplary for Dutch climate skeptics, who utilize a religious vocabulary to criticize environmental activism. In this article, as a case study, I want to present an analysis of Baudet’s infamous ‘Owl of Minerva’ victory speech held in March 2019. It is not only illustrative of Baudet’s religion-inspired anti-environmental rhetoric, but the speech itself marked a turning-point in the Dutch public debate concerning the social and political acceptability of this rhetoric.