Unemployment: The German case. A critical analysis of political discourse

In light of the mass unemployment in Germany and the growing resentment of unemployment policies, it becomes increasingly important to understand policies that are implemented to deal with the millions of unemployed persons. This study uncovers the nuances of meaning and their deployment in the political discourse regarding unemployment in Germany by analyzing debates of the German Bundestag and official local communications to find rhetorical commonplaces and evaluate their use. The data show that commonplaces discovered in Germany are both similar and different than those used in other European countries and at the EU-level. Political discourse referring to unemployment as a disease, discourse stressing the difference between East and West Germany, and discourse relating to duty and sanctions are unique to the German case. The study offers insight into the functions of political discourse on unemployment in Germany and adds to the existing body of literature in the EU.