ABSTRACT
The analysis of public debates within mass media is a promising task for those interested in the formation of a publicised public opinion that transcends national borders and provides European citizens with the possibility of familiarising themselves with the economic and political situation in other European countries. This chapter is devoted to an empirical examination of public discourses about the European financial and economic crisis in the mass media of nine countries (Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). It makes use of a comprehensive dataset of public claims, extracted through standardised media content analysis from national newspapers for the years between 2008 and 2014. Findings show that public discourses were nationally segmented but cross-nationally connected in terms of actors, issues and demands. Public debates about the Great Recession thus contribute to the formation of a common cognitive and evaluative framework, which has considerable implications for the political opinions and preferences that European citizens voice.
