The Rise of Far-Right Narratives in Europe and Emotional Appeals : A Critical Discourse Analysis of Germany’s AfD and Italy’s Lega

The thesis explores the discourse of two far-right parties in Europe, Germany's Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) and Italy's Lega. It is observed whether moral disengagement mechanisms are being used in order to normalize exclusionary, often discriminatory narratives. Through the use of Albert Bandura's Moral Disengagement Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis, the study examines language and what emotional appeals were sought after in manifestos, public statements, and social media posts.