ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes the use of language in the construction of identity in the constitution of an anti-state group, which is a part of the sovereign citizen movement in Austria. The group, called ‘Staatenbund Österreich’ (‘Austrian Commonwealth’), had been active for several years before the government charged them with high treason. The group believes that the government is illegitimate – an assumption which allows them to legitimize their behavior. The movement, which is spreading across the globe, has started in the US in the 1970s, and yet, it is still impossible to estimate the actual danger they pose, even though they have been reported to become increasingly violent. The present paper investigates the constitution of the ‘Austrian Commonwealth’ in order to find out how they manage to create an identity for their group, how they legitimize themselves and their claims, and how their language use compares to other extremist groups.

摘要

本文分析了反国家团体宪法中语言在身份建构中的使用，反国家团体是奥地利主权公民运动的一部分。该组织名为“Staatenbund Österreich”（“奥地利联邦”），在政府指控他们犯有叛国罪之前，该组织已经活跃了数年。该组织认为政府是非法的——这一假设使他们能够将自己的行为合法化。这场正在全球蔓延的运动始于 1970 年代的美国，然而，尽管据报道它们变得越来越暴力，但仍然无法估计它们构成的实际危险。本论文调查了“奥地利联邦”的构成，以了解他们如何设法为自己的群体创造身份，