The Wolf as Political Symbol: Populism, State Narratives, and Conservation Conflict in Austria

Fairy tales, folklore, and centuries-old fears have long shaped how humans perceive large predators like wolves. In contemporary Austria, these cultural imaginaries are not only preserved but strategically reactivated within the political discourse of the radical right. The return of wolves to Austrian landscapes has become more than an ecological development – it has become a symbolic battlefield within the populist rhetoric of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). Drawing on Benjamin Moffitt and Simon Tormey’s concept of populism as a style, this study examines how the FPÖ performs populism through the figure of the wolf. Central to this style are the dramatization of crisis, a stark division between the “common rural people” and a detached “urban elite,” and the use of provocative language and imagery to assert authenticity and urgency. The analysis is based on a discourse analysis of FPÖ press releases, party manifestos, media appearances, and local events from 2010 to 2024. Importantly, the study incorporates an ecological foundation that contextualizes and challenges the FPÖ’s claims about large predators. Scientific research on wolf and bear behavior, ecological roles, and human-wildlife conflict is used to contrast and deconstruct political narratives driven by fear, misinformation, and ideological positioning. The results show that the FPÖ weaponizes the figure of the wolf to symbolically represent state failure, external control, and threats to traditional rural life, while selectively ignoring ecological facts. Gendered narratives further reinforce this rhetoric: male actors appear as protectors of land and culture, while female figures are framed as vulnerable mothers in need of protection. Ultimately, the case of the wolf in Austria demonstrates how ecological debates become deeply entangled with populist identity politics – and how addressing such conflicts requires not only scientific knowledge but also an understanding of the political and cultural performances shaping them.