Flyktingpolitiska diskurser
en kritisk diskursanalys av två debatter
Critical discourse analysisMigration politicsPolitical discourseText analysisRefugeeFormer YugoslaviaIraqSocial sciencesSamhällsvetenskaperSocial Sciences
The central goal of this study was to compare statements of the minister of migration in power in 1994 with those of the minister of migration in 2006. The statements reflect two peaks of refugee immigration in connection to the war in former Yugoslavia and the present war in Iraq. The study analyses the statements in a critical discourse analysis framework. More specifically the aim was to find out if there were any discursive differences in these statements and how they might manifest themselves in society. The material was composed of 12 texts, 6 for each period originating from Swedish newspapers and from the ministers' public speeches. Through a textual analysis via a discussion on the discursive and social practices, the aim was to form an understanding of the field of migration politics during these periods. The discourse analysis concludes both similarities and differences between the periods. The statements show the following similarities. Firstly they are similar as to language use such as extensive use of state verb. Secondly they portray Sweden as a generous country for refugees. Thirdly they portray a collective group of migrants as being composed in the wrong way: the 94/95 migrants are portrayed as false refugees whereas the 06/07 migrants are portrayed as unable to contribute to Swedish society through work. Fourthly they represent the refugees as an economic and a social load for Swedish society, where the economic load is emphasized in 94/95 discourse and the social load in 06/07 discourse. The main difference is the way in which the ministers' represent the domain of migration as dependant of another domain of politics, namely the economical domain. In the 94/95 texts, Sweden should accept refugees as long as the economy allows it. In texts from 06/07, Sweden should accept those migrants that are able to contribute to Swedish economy.