PEOPLEMirjam Gruber

de en it

Mirjam Gruber

Post-Doc-Researcher
Center for Advanced Studies

T +39 0471 055 178

mirjam.gruber@eurac.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2673-0805

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About

Mirjam Gruber is a Post-Doc Researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies of Eurac Research, co-coordinator of the research group Gender Dynamics, and co-editor of the Gender Matters blog. In 2023, she earned her doctorate in Political Science from the University of Leipzig (Germany). Her work explores the complex interplay between the climate crisis and far-right populism, a focus that culminated in the recent publication of her Open Access book, Climate Politics in Populist Times, with Routledge.

In 2022, she enhanced her academic pursuits with a five-month research visit at the University of Leicester (United Kingdom). Until 2017, she pursued her Master's degree in Political Science and Sustainable Development at the University of Bern (Switzerland) and the University of Konstanz (Germany). During her Bachelor's studies, she specialized in International Development and Cooperation at the University of Bologna (Italy) and the University of Valladolid (Spain). Her current research interests include

Climate change communication
Populism and far-right parties
Political discourses
Critical discourse studies
Gender aspects

Scientific Publications

Report2025

Climate Justice: What it is and how it relates to other justice concepts and components (ASCEND project)

Balest J, Voltolini F, Tomaselli A, Bernhard von Schlechtleitner AL, Budabin AC, De Bortoli I, Pedoth L, Gruber M,

Alexandra Tomaselli, Jessica Balest, Lydia Pedoth, Isidoro De Bortoli, Mirjam Gruber, Alexandra Budabin, Anna Lea Bernhard von Schlechtleitner, Adriana Recalde Martínez, Federico Voltolini

Project: ClimAte JuStiCe and INtersectionality: from ADaptation to Transformation

Climate justice examines the responsibilities and impacts of climate change through a justice framework, incorporating distributive, procedural, recognitional, and corrective justice. It intersects with concepts like social inequality, vulnerability, and resilience. This report thus first traces the evolution of inequality studies in relation to climate justice, highlighting how the uneven and asymmetric access to and distribution of resources reflect the core principles of climate (in)justice. It also offers a systematic review of the most prominent definitions of climate justice in scientific literature, followed by a critical analysis of its implications for climate change research. In particular, it includes a diagnosis of concepts and debates closely related to climate justice that have often been treated separately, fostering cross-fertilization and cross-disciplinary dialogues that bridge different perspectives. Finally, it highlights the need for climate research and policy to consider the diverse nature of societies and how different groups and communities access services and processes. It ultimately calls for significant societal changes that address current power structures.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.57749/fjqf-gm87

Inbook2024

Benefits of an Integrative Tourism Policy: on the Way to a New Tourism Culture Using the Example of South Tyrol

Gruber M, Innerhofer E, Walder M

Mirjam Gruber

The tourism sector is a significant economic pillar in South Tyrol. Along with an increase in arrivals and overnight stays, the number of upscale tourism facilities also rose in recent years. This expansion, both quantitatively and qualitatively, even picked up speed after the pandemic and raises concerns about overtourism in the Northern Italian Region. In tourism and especially when it comes to overtourism many different aspects and perspectives have to be considered. The existing regulations in South Tyrol regarding tourism seem unsatisfactory and in this chapter the authors argue that a comprehensive, sustainable and well-planned tourism policy is needed. Such a tourism policy should incorporate elements of political, cultural and social life and consider perspectives from different stakeholders and local citizens. This contribution discusses issues regarding the development of tourism in South Tyrol, presents literature on tourism policy and proposes various measures for an integrated tourism policy in South Tyrol. The contribution is based on a study on tourism in South Tyrol conducted by the Eurac Research Center for Advanced Studies. The authors are part of the research team that worked on the study. The paper reflects the results of this study.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.4324/9781003365815-24

Book2024

Climate Politics in Populist Times: Climate Change Communication Strategies in Germany, Spain, and Austria

Gruber M

Mirjam Gruber

ISBN: 9781032882697

This book navigates the neglected territory where far-right populism intersects with climate change, presenting a nuanced examination that transcends traditional research boundaries.

In recent decades, Europe has grappled with the surge of far-right and populist movements, fueling robust academic debates. Simultaneously, the global discourse on climate change has become increasingly pervasive in societal and political spheres. This book provides a comprehensive exploration of how populist far-right parties discuss climate change within their national contexts, focusing on Germany, Spain, and Austria. Using a meticulous methodology rooted in critical discourse studies, Mirjam Gruber examines the perspectives on climate change held by mainstream parties thereby defining the national policy field. Gruber then delves into the discourse about climate change of populist far-right parties, revealing a complex web of obstructionist arguments intricately tied to the national policy context. By analyzing a diverse array of documents spanning five years, including social media posts, press releases, parliamentary debates, and policy documents, Gruber uncovers a stark contrast between the willingness of mainstream parties to address climate concerns and the obstructionist rhetoric employed by their far-right counterparts. This illuminating exploration underscores the importance of context in understanding political communication and provides profound insights into how different nations frame the climate change narrative.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.4324/9781003536987

Journal article2024

Far-Right World Ordering from the Margins: Ethno-Ecological Degrowth and the Nation in the Swiss Democrats’ Discourse About the Natural Environment

Forchtner B, Gruber M

Mirjam Gruber

Global environmental issues can give rise to globally shared, progressive narratives. Others, such as regressive far-right actors, have obstructed such responses by reproducing exclusionary narratives. However, while substantial work on such far-right obstruction exists, comprehensive case studies on pro-environment/pro-climate far-right actors are less common. To illuminate such far-right imagination of (un)desirable patterned relationships at a worldwide level (world ordering), we offer a multimodal longitudinal analysis of articulations of environmental issues by the radical-right party Swiss Democrats between 2000 and 2022. The significance of our contribution lies in reconstructing far-right world ordering, which positions this actor as an uncorrupted outsider and, more specifically, proposes pro-environment/pro-climate, growth-critical stances coupled with xenophobia (what we conceptualize as “ethno-ecological degrowth”). Furthermore, by combining narrative theory and Habermas-inspired theory of collective learning, we reconstruct the (distortion of) the party's communication over time to aid a reconsideration of the analytical toolkit for the analysis of world ordering.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1093/isagsq/ksae068

Edited book2024

Gender Report Südtirol

Tomaselli A, Crepaz K, Gruber M

Alexandra Tomaselli, Katharina Crepaz, Mirjam Gruber

Der Gender Report soll auf der Grundlage wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse einen Überblick darüber geben, wie die verschiedenen Aspekte und Dynamiken von Gender bisher in Südtirol behandelt wurden, und gleichzeitig Anregungen für Reflexion und innovative Perspektiven bieten. Der Bericht soll als Instrument zur Verbreitung und Sensibilisierung zu diesem wichtigen Themas dienen, indem er nicht nur eine Momentaufnahme liefert, wie Gender das Leben in Südtirol beeinflusst, sondern auch das lokale entwickelte Wissen festigt und über Erfahrungen und bewährte Praktiken aus anderen Kontexten reflektiert. Darüber hinaus bietet er eine Einführung in die aktuellen Diskussionen über Gender-Konzepte und -Dynamiken auf internationaler und lokaler Ebene und zeigt mögliche Lücken auf, die es in Zukunft zu schließen gilt.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.57749/EEH8-3F92

Journal article2023

Populism in Times of a Pandemic: A Cross-Country Critical Discourse Analysis of Right-Wing and Left-Wing Populist Parties in Europe

Gruber M, Isetti G, Ghirardello L, Walder M

Mirjam Gruber, Giulia Isetti

This article provides an analysis of the COVID-19 discourse within six European populist parties from Spain, Germany, and France, with the aim of shedding light on the diverse interpretations and presentations of the pandemic by these parties. While most studies focus on right-wing or far-right populism, this study looks at both right and left ideologies paired with populism. By applying the discourse-historical approach of critical discourse studies, we highlight similarities and differences across the right-left political spectrum, as well as variations within and between different countries. The study contributes thus to the existing literature on populism and extends our understanding of the relationship between populist parties and the pandemic beyond rightwing populist parties only. Results, consistent with previous research, show that the host ideology decisively shapes parties’ discourses about COVID-19 and the need to consider alternative perspectives in populism research.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1163/25888072-bja10049

Inbook2022

Re-Globalization and its Challenges for High-Skilled Labor and its Consequences at the Regional Level

Kofler I, Gruber M

Mirjam Gruber

The nature of work is changing, due to demographic shifts, re-globalization, and digitalization. Regional and local labor markets are in global competition for (highly) qualified and specialized workers. At the same time, the workforce’s desire for flexibility and the increasing speed at which skill requirements are changing are creating disparities at the spatial, social, and economic levels. This chapter discusses the global and local drivers behind these developments, exploring the factors which cause global inequalities between urban and rural areas, and highlights how cities, regions, and countries attract employees to address skills shortages.

DOI

DOI: 10.4324/9781003123804

Edited book2022

Re-globalization: new frontiers of political, economic, and social globalization

Benedikter R, Gruber M, Kofler I

Roland Benedikter, Mirjam Gruber

ISBN: 978-0-367-64284-6

Re-Globalization examines the changing face of globalization, with political, economic, and social balances in flux, and tensions increasing in many parts of the globe.

This book discusses and problematizes the current transition phase of globalization in response to issues such as inequalities, climate change, and health crises, offering a comprehensive collection of responses to the question “what is re- globalization?” The authors discuss the various definitions and forms of re-globalization, using a range of approaches, examples, and case studies in order to shed light on this process. The analysis of the phenomenon of re- globalization – understood as an economic, political, and social process – is both inter- and transdisciplinary. This volume offers contributions from academic disciplines within the social sciences, as well as technology, global security, global studies, health, and climate and environmental sciences. Overall, the book analyzes and illustrates how globalization shifts are interconnected and how they relate to a transition in global society, proposing a framework for a series of future scenarios.

DOI

DOI: 10.4324/9781003123804

Journal article2022

Restoring (Old) Questions of Sovereignty under the Cover of Minority Protection? The Example of the Dual Citizenship Discourse in South Tyrol.

Gruber M, Marcher A

Mirjam Gruber

Minority groups are often the subject of studies dealing with sovereignty and European integration. A now also common topic in political science is the rise of populist movements. Scholars study both of these issues extensively, but little research has been done on their nexus. Against this background, this article looks at the current sovereignty discourse in the minority area of South Tyrol. Even though three linguistic groups peacefully co-exist in the Italian province, various calls for dual citizenship have arisen. The possibility of acquiring an Austrian passport became a salient topic, especially since the övp/fpö government of Austria. Using the discourse-historical approach, the authors contextualize medial discourses with social-cultural context information. Results suggest that local media are disseminating a discourse regarding dual citizenship that largely differs from the opinion of the majority of the population, but corresponds to that of the populist actors who seem to fuel the issue.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1163/15718115-bja10060

Journal article2022

The Integration of Local Actors in Policy Implementation: The Case of Organic Farming in Costa Rica

Gruber M

Mirjam Gruber

Like other countries of the world, Costa Rica faced the challenge of dealing with a variety of trade-offs when implementing sustainability goals in agriculture. Very often, economic promotion is in conflict with goals regarding human and environmental health protection. Organic farming practices could provide strategies to overcome some of these trade-offs. However, in Costa Rica, the majority of farmers still relies on conventional farm practices. In this paper, I investigate the potential for a sustainable transformation in Costa Rica’s agriculture by focusing on organic farming policies. I shed light on the role local actors and organizations play in this process compared to other actor types. I argue that local actors are “the agents of change” in these processes, as these are the target groups of organic farming policies and are the ones who are asked to change their farm practices. Based on survey data and network analysis, I was able to illustrate how differently integrated local actors are compared to other actor types in Costa Rica’s implementation of organic farming policies. Local actors show interest and willingness to further participate in land-use implementation processes when institutional barriers are alleviated, and further promotion instruments are available.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.3390/su14127265

Journal article2020

Is caring about the environment enough for sustainable mobility? An exploratory case study from South Tyrol (Italy)

Isetti G, Ferraretto M, Stawinoga, A, Gruber M, DellaValle N

Agnieszka Stawinoga, Mirjam Gruber, Giulia Isetti

Project: EU FP7 SINFONIA - Smart INitiative of cities Fully cOmmitted to iNvest In Advanced large-scaled energy solutions.

Sustainable mobility has a positive impact on quality of life, in both urban and rural contexts. Policies aimed at promoting greener travel behaviors – at European, as well as at state and regional level – require a deep knowledge of differing mobility cultures across European regions. In order to better understand the relationship between the (stated) propensity towards sustainability, reported mobility patterns and users' lifestyles in rural areas, an exploratory study was conducted in South Tyrol, a rural region in Northern Italy that strives to become a model region for sustainable alpine mobility by 2030. More specifically, an online survey on sustainable mobility was administered to the inhabitants, exploring motivations, preferred incentives and drivers that may lead towards the adoption of sustainable mobility solutions (with a focus on e-mobility). By analyzing how pro-environmental self-identity interacts with consumers' heterogeneity, results show that heterogeneity exists in the individual pro-environmental identity measure. Based also on evidence from the literature that extrinsic rewards might negatively impact intrinsic motivations to engage in a certain behavior, this study warns policy-makers of potential unintended consequences of current policy tools used to incentivize the adoption of sustainable means of transport, such as the provision of monetary incentives for electric vehicles.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2020.100148

Book2020

The future of high-skilled workers: regional problems and global challenges

Kofler I, Innerhofer E, Marcher A, Gruber M, Pechlaner H

Harald Pechlaner, Mirjam Gruber

ISBN: 978-3-030-42870-9

The nature of work is changing, due to demographic shifts, globalization, and digitization. Regional local labor markets are in global competition for (highly) qualified and specialized workers. At the same time, the workforce’s desire for flexibility and the increasing speed at which skill requirements are changing are producing disparities at the spatial, social, and economic levels. This book discusses the global and local drivers behind these developments. It explores the factors which cause global inequalities between urban and rural areas, and highlights how cities, regions and countries attract these sought-after employees to address skills shortages. The book includes an in-depth case study on high-skilled workers in South Tyrol, Italy. No single academic discipline can adequately capture the dynamics of the future labor market, and the authors therefore take an interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from different disciplines. This book will be a valuable resource for policymakers, students and researchers seeking to understand the driving forces behind the ever-changing labor market and the future of high-skilled work.

DOI

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-42871-6

Journal article2020

Is caring about the environment enough for sustainable mobility? An exploratory case study from South Tyrol (Italy)

Isetti G, Ferraretto M, Stawinoga, A, Gruber M, DellaValle N

Agnieszka Stawinoga, Mirjam Gruber, Giulia Isetti

Project: EU FP7 SINFONIA - Smart INitiative of cities Fully cOmmitted to iNvest In Advanced large-scaled energy solutions.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2020.100148

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Mirjam Gruber

About

Scientific Publications

Climate Justice: What it is and how it relates to other justice concepts and components (ASCEND project)

Benefits of an Integrative Tourism Policy: on the Way to a New Tourism Culture Using the Example of South Tyrol

Climate Politics in Populist Times: Climate Change Communication Strategies in Germany, Spain, and Austria

Far-Right World Ordering from the Margins: Ethno-Ecological Degrowth and the Nation in the Swiss Democrats’ Discourse About the Natural Environment

Gender Report Südtirol

Populism in Times of a Pandemic: A Cross-Country Critical Discourse Analysis of Right-Wing and Left-Wing Populist Parties in Europe

Re-Globalization and its Challenges for High-Skilled Labor and its Consequences at the Regional Level

Re-globalization: new frontiers of political, economic, and social globalization

Restoring (Old) Questions of Sovereignty under the Cover of Minority Protection? The Example of the Dual Citizenship Discourse in South Tyrol.

The Integration of Local Actors in Policy Implementation: The Case of Organic Farming in Costa Rica

Is caring about the environment enough for sustainable mobility? An exploratory case study from South Tyrol (Italy)

The future of high-skilled workers: regional problems and global challenges

Science Shots Eurac Research Newsletter

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Scientific Publications

Climate Justice: What it is and how it relates to other justice concepts and components (ASCEND project)

Benefits of an Integrative Tourism Policy: on the Way to a New Tourism Culture Using the Example of South Tyrol

Climate Politics in Populist Times: Climate Change Communication Strategies in Germany, Spain, and Austria

Far-Right World Ordering from the Margins: Ethno-Ecological Degrowth and the Nation in the Swiss Democrats’ Discourse About the Natural Environment

Gender Report Südtirol

Populism in Times of a Pandemic: A Cross-Country Critical Discourse Analysis of Right-Wing and Left-Wing Populist Parties in Europe

Re-Globalization and its Challenges for High-Skilled Labor and its Consequences at the Regional Level

Re-globalization: new frontiers of political, economic, and social globalization

Restoring (Old) Questions of Sovereignty under the Cover of Minority Protection? The Example of the Dual Citizenship Discourse in South Tyrol.

The Integration of Local Actors in Policy Implementation: The Case of Organic Farming in Costa Rica

Is caring about the environment enough for sustainable mobility? An exploratory case study from South Tyrol (Italy)

The future of high-skilled workers: regional problems and global challenges

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