Dog-whistle politics in far-right discourse: Analyzing ethnonationalism in Martin Sellner’s book ‘remigration’

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of dog-whistle politics within the context of Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner’s rhetoric, focusing on how coded language is employed to promote ethnonationalist and far-right ideologies in contemporary European political discourse. By conducting a detailed qualitative content analysis of Sellner’s 2024 book Remigration: Ein Vorschlag (Remigration: A Proposal), the study investigates the extent to which ostensibly neutral terms can function as linguistic vehicles for exclusionary, racist, and antisemitic messages to a specific, ideologically aligned audience. While Sellner’s primary influence remains German/Austrian, his tactics reflect global far-right strategies. We thus contextualize his rhetoric through selective comparison with other far-right figures to illuminate shared communication logics. The findings reveal how coded language may shape public discourse while navigating social and legal constraints, with significant implications for political communication, media practices, and policymaking.