A “More Political” Commission? Reassessing EC Politicization through Language

This article contributes to the study of European Commission's (EC) politicization by examining this phenomenon from angle communication. We elaborate a novel approach based on two linguistic indicators – charisma and technicality which we then apply through content analysis 8,947 speeches delivered Commission members between 1999 2019. Contrary narrative an ever more political Commission, find that EC decreased over period under exam, reaching its nadir during Jean-Claude Juncker's presidential term (2014–19). Our findings raise question whether language is yet another ordinary dimension politicization, or rather it used strategically underplay underlying as measured in traditional institutional, policy, individual terms. Either way, our highlights multi-faceted nature concept, need for deeper nuanced analyses it.