Converging Narratives on the European Green Deal: Polarised Homogeneity in Central European MEPs’ Facebook Discourse

Abstract

This study examines political narratives surrounding the European Green Deal (EGD) in seven Central European countries, revealing four separate dominant framings of the EGD, as well a pattern of strategic narrative convergence and interpretative polarization. Analysing 351 Facebook posts from 82 MEPs from 2019 to 2024, I identify four distinct meta‑narratives: a strongly anti‑EGD narrative, an uncritical pro‑EGD narrative, a critical pro‑EGD narrative advocating for greater ambition, and an opportunistic, pragmatic pro‑EGD narrative that strategically co ‑opts populist and far‑right themes. Despite varying national contexts, all narratives converge within these four dominant framings, indicating a strategic focus on mobilization rather than intergroup engagement and dialogue. The method used was an original synthesis of framing analysis, narrative analysis and affective analysis, focused on the general stance towards the EGD, the characterizations used, and emotional appeals of the posts. This research contributes to understanding the nuanced dynamics of climate policy discourse and the challenges of fostering constructive debate.