Between EU’s aspiring saint and disillusioned rebel: hegemonic narrative and counter-narrative production in Poland

ABSTRACT

This article uses Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory to explore the development of the counter-narrative of European integration in Poland. It argues that systemic features of the EU field of power induce political actors in the in-between member states to develop two types of narratives. These narratives are aimed at dealing with the state’s perceived lower status imposed by the hegemonic narrative produced by the field’s dominant actors. Whereas the adaptive strategy of an aspiring saint has been supported by the hegemonic pro-integration narrative, contestation of existing power relations has been legitimized by means of a disillusioned rebel counter-narrative, where correction into normality defined by established EU members is replaced with the new normal as defined by the contestants. Empirically, the analysis of hegemonic narrative and counter-narrative production in Poland is based on the qualitative analysis of speech acts produced in the years 2011–2020 by politicians and officials with regard to the eurozone, migration, rule of law and the COVID-19 pandemic crises. The findings demonstrate the interplay between policy and identity (counter-) narrative, but also show how narrative entrepreneurs use their stories to appeal to domestic and European audiences.

KEYWORDS:

• European Union
• Poland
• field of power
• narrative
• adaptation
• contestation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.