Party discourse analysis Law and Justice (PiS) in Poland and its development by the concept of populism

This thesis deals with a qualitative content analysis of the populist discourse in the Polish party Law and Justice (PiS). To that end, it uses the ideational approach, informed by a conceptualisation of the populist radical right, including its relation to democracy, inclusion and exclusion. In methodology, findings from the current literature are complemented by a study of chosen new speeches and media inputs, in addition to the election programmes. PiS is described as populist, combining this discourse with nativism, and the development of this discourse is observed mainly in the changing intensity of its use in relation to other aspects such as social welfarism or politics of fear (against refugees and LGBT+), as well as occasional absence of this discourse. In regard to the reform of the judiciary and other steps of the government, the differing explanation ranging between populism and institutionalism is noted, and towards the European Union or the protests against the abortion ban the relationship with populism is problematised