Lay narratives of nationhood: Time, place and emotion in the talk of populist radical right‐wing supporters in Finland

Abstract

AbstractInspired by previous research showing how populist radical right‐wing parties capitalise discussions around nation, this article examines Finnish lay citizens' understanding of nationhood in the context of rising right‐wing populism. Drawing on in‐depth interviews with voters of a populist party (N = 25) and using the photo‐elicitation method, this study explores how participants use time, place and emotions to construct their national identity. Through a narrative‐discursive analysis, three emotional narratives were identified—respecting the past, beloved places of identity and admiring traditional ways of living—each contributing to social identity continuity. The findings reveal the interplay between political discourses and embodied, affective meaning‐making, highlighting the importance of approaching the nation as an affective community and using image‐based methodologies to study complex national identities.