Acceso usuarios
Marion Löffler
This article studies the image of political science in Austria bytracing and analysing references to political scientists and theirresearch in parliamentary debates. Since they werefirstestablished in Austrian universities in the 1960s, the socialsciences and especially political science have been contested andsometimes accused of being forms of political (left-wing)ideology. This politicization has given references to politicalscience a potential rhetorical value in parliamentary debatesbetween oppositional and governmental factions. Theparliamentary records of the Austrian Parliament (NationalCouncil) were searched for references to political science andseveral were found from 1966 until 2021. An analysis of theseresults identified three main rhetorical strategies at work inreferences to political science in plenary debates. The declininguse of these strategies over time indicates a growing acceptanceof political science and a positive view of political scienceexpertise. Nevertheless, in recent debates right-wing populistparliamentary members in particular have continued toperpetuate and reinforce a negative image of political scienceand political scientists
