“Those Are Only Slogans” A Linguistic Analysis of Argumentation in Debates With Extremist Political Speakers

This article examines a newspaper and a television debate between a philosopher and two politicians of the extreme rightwing party the Flemish Bloc (Vlaams Blok) in Flanders (Belgium). The debates took place in the summer and autumn of 2004, respec-tively, after the party had been condemned for racism by the Belgian court. The debates center around the fundamental question asked by the philosopher to what extent and in what way the party has abandoned the views which led to the verdict. The research questions are the following: (a) What tactics are used in this situation, which creates a conflict between the party’s ideology and legality? (b) Are implicit meanings uncover-able beneath the surface tactics which give an answer to the philosopher’s question? (c) Is the political debating style of the speakers as politicians belonging to an extremist party the same as or different from that of mainstream politicians