Internet discourse of modern socio-political movements as a way of self-representation (on the example of the yellow waistcoat movement)

The research of the study is Internet discourse as a way of self-presentation of modern sociopolitical movements (case study of the Yellow Vest movement). The research purpose is analysis of the Internet discourse of socio-political movements as a way of their self-presentation (case study of the Yellow Vest movement). The research methodology includes Laclau-Mouffe discourse analysis: identifying the antagonism of discourses (participants in the conflict), definition of nodal points and hegemonic articulation that contributes to the positioning of socio-political movements as an alternative to existing institutions of the system. Also in the work through the theories of P. Ibarra and J. Kitsuse is going through the identification of the main rhetorical strategies of Yellow Vest activists in their discourse. The author comes to the conclusion that the Yellow Vests position themselves as opponents of the French government, which they perceive as “lying” and “repressive”. The activists of the Yellow Vests present their activities through the Internet discourse as an alternative to the existing institutions of the socio-political system: In self-representation, the Yellow Vests define their movement as “a free community that unites people regardless of their political views”. To create an alternative to the existing institutions of the socio-political system, the Yellow Vests call for direct civil referendums that could represent the interests of citizens without any representatives. The research has theoretical and practical significance for the academic community and specialists in the field of socio-political movements. The research may also be of interest to researchers of modern socio-political life in France.