The following papers will be presented during this session:
Paper 1: ‘I love this country and the things it stands for’. Britain, Britishness and exceptionalism within the rhetoric of David Cameron.
Abstract: David Cameron largely delivered on his call to ‘stop banging on about Europe’. Instead of the European other, Cameron’s rhetoric focused on the British self. This presentation reports on my analysis of Cameron’s rhetoric on Britain, Britishness and its place in the world. The analysis finds that generosity, openness and integrity are indicative of British values. It argues that Cameron sought to build a patriotic ethos to bolster the legitimacy of his domestic policy choices and to play the European diplomatic warrior. It finds that Cameron’s Britishness is built on the myth of exceptionalism – ultimately incompatible with EU membership itself.
Paper 2: Two sides of the same (£) coin? The role of the official EU Referendum campaigns in mainstreaming the far right
Abstract: This presentation explores the mainstreaming of the far right through the case study of the British referendum on EU membership (Brexit). In it, I will compare the discourses of the official campaigns (Vote Leave and Britain Stronger in Europe) with that of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and associated campaigns. A number of parallels in both content and style emerge, underscoring the critical role of mainstream actors in the normalisation of far-right discourse and ideas.
Paper 3: #neverforget: Remembering 9/11 through Facebook
Abstract: My PhD project examines the digital memorialisation of 9/11, analysing content created both by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and members of the public. In this talk I will focus on the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s Facebook page, discussing how this form of memorialisation differs from the role played by a traditional physical memorial, and what this online space is able to add to memorial narratives of the 9/11 attacks.
Please contact Katy Brown or Mike Bolt if you would like to attend and have not received the Zoom link.