National Differences at the Eurovision Song Contest: The Seven Essential & Interconnected “Dimensions of Meaning”
The Eurovision Song Contest shows apparent national differences in using the show as an instrument for national-cultural representation. These ones can be explained by reducing its complexity to seven essential and interconnected ‘dimensions of meaning’.
The results of an interview study on the occasion of the 49th Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul show a focus on the national-cultural dimension and confirm the theory of German sociologist Reinhard Bendix: the more a country is seen as a democratic and industrial ‘latecomer’ in comparison to the Western European ‘avant-garde’ nations, the more likely it is to highlight its cultural uniqueness, since national culture is regarded as a key to the country’s future success.
Irving’s contribution will also focus on recent German and international research related to the voting.