A Functional Analysis of VOX's Climate Crisis Discourse on Twitter/X

Abstract

The climate crisis stands as one of the foremost threats to humanity, demanding urgent measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its critical nature, climate policy has become a contentious issue, intensified by ineffective communication strategies and polarized public discourse. Social media platforms have become significant arenas for opinion formation, often exacerbating misinformation and public harassment. This research employs the Functional Theory of Discourse to analyze on the Spanish far-right party Vox's discourse on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) regarding environmental policies. A total of 91 posts from Vox's official account and its leader, Santiago Abascal, were analyzed over six months, from September 2022 to February 2023. The posts were categorized based on their discursive functions: acclaims, attacks, and defenses, with further subcategorization into policy and character appeals. The analysis reveals that Vox's communication strategy balances attacks and acclaims. Attacks primarily targeted the Spanish government and international bodies like the European Union, using themes of dishonesty, incompetence and opposition to climate measures. Acclaims highlighted Vox's proposals for energy sovereignty, opposition to the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law and leadership qualities. Therefore, Vox’s discourse on environmental policies is characterized by simplicity and a dual focus on attacks and acclaims. Their messaging promotes nationalistic and conservative ideals, positioning themselves against progressive and environmentalist ideologies. This strategy of polarization and confrontation, aided by multimedia elements, effectively engages their audience but poses challenges for democratic debate and the implementation of effective climate policies. Future research should explore the implications of such discursive strategies on public opinion and policy-making.