Eurosceptic Narratives of the Visegrád Group (V4) on the Future of the European Union: A Comparative Discourse Analysis (2018–2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/mediaforum.2025.17.280-294Keywords:
Visegrád Group, Euroscepticism, European integration, Russia–Ukraine war, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, political communication, discourse analysisAbstract
The article provides a comprehensive comparative discourse analysis of the Eurosceptic narratives articulated by the Visegrád Group (V4) countries – Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The study explores how these narratives reflect the broader transformation of European identity and political communication within the European Union (EU). The research assumes that Central European Euroscepticism should not be reduced merely to a reaction against Brussels’ bureaucracy but should be understood as an attempt to redefine the principles of subsidiarity, sovereignty, and political solidarity in the evolving European project.
Methodologically, the article employs a combination of critical discourse analysis, comparative politics, and the pragmatist theory of power, allowing for a multidimensional interpretation of political communication across the four countries. This interdisciplinary approach reveals how political elites in the V4 have strategically constructed rhetorical frames to legitimize alternative visions of European integration and to balance national sovereignty with collective obligations.
The findings demonstrate a significant transformation in V4 Euroscepticism after 2022. The Russian war against Ukraine served as a catalyst for shifting discursive patterns: while earlier narratives focused on migration and economic policy, more recent ones emphasize energy autonomy, regional leadership, and «sovereign Europeanism». This concept encapsulates the V4’s pragmatic approach – combining critique of EU institutions with an aspiration to shape Europe’s future security and governance agenda.
The article introduces the concept of pragmatic Euroscepticism to describe this hybrid model of political discourse, integrating both constructive and critical dimensions. The study’s practical relevance lies in its potential to inform EU communication strategies toward Central Europe and to forecast the evolving internal dynamics of the Visegrád Group.
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