Abstract
This article addresses xenophobic discourse and how traits responsible for its main effect, the definition and defence of social hierarchies, can be shown to disperse into the normalisms of daily communication. 1 Mostly, it is not openly prejudiced slander that has the most salient and widespread discriminatory consequences, but rather those forms that sneak under the threshold of awareness. Basic to my analysis is the observation that the habitualized inner dynamics of talk about `foreigners' influences the possibilities for identity politics in direct interaction between immigrants and native Viennese. This predisposed dynamics, grounding in a reoccurring pattern of topical connections, has stained the normalized common sense, where it is not so easily identifiable and commonly no longer regarded as racist. It needs to be uncovered so that the discriminatory effects, even in utterances of the supposedly `tolerant majority', are revealed.
Published Version
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