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It takes two to tango

Euroscepticism and contestation within and outside the EU

ORCiD logo with link | University of Surrey
Published online: 31 July 2026
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.25034.gue
Abstract
Recent analyses examine the role of crisis in the emergence of the populist/anti- populist discourse and the confluence of populism and Euroscepticism at the party level. In this article, the study focuses on the analysis of the main political actors in the EU institutions, by examining the channels and discourses adopted by different actors in the (de)legitimation of the EU. The focus is on the transnational contestation (DiEM25, Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 and VOLT), following the model of analysis of the mutual construction and reproduction. The analysis shows that the antagonized discourse used by the mainstream narrative further reinforces populism and provides a breeding ground for populism to consolidate itself, while weakening the possible impact of the legitimizing representation of Euroscepticism in the EP.
Article outline
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Euroscepticism and the EU crisis
  • 3. Research design and methodology
  • 4.1 Progressive Euroalternativism
  • 4.2 The antagonistic narrative
    • Patterns of blame and the antagonistic construction
  • 5. Discussion and conclusion
  • References
References (51)
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