This thesis researches how UK news media report on refugee policies for Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian migrants. Using a double comparative case study and discourse analysis, the study explores...Show moreThis thesis researches how UK news media report on refugee policies for Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian migrants. Using a double comparative case study and discourse analysis, the study explores differences in coverage, since this can have major influence on public opinion and government policies. The thesis found that the conservative news media were in favour of the Rwanda Asylum Plan, whereas the liberal news media opposed the plan. Reporting on Ukrainian refugees was much more positive and sympathetic, using personal stories and interviews. Racial connotations and ethnic backgrounds contribute to the divergent coverage. The study contributes to understanding different treatment of migrant groups and the role of news media in shaping policies and public opinion.Show less
Since April 2019, Russia has conducted passportization in the Donbas region (Atland, 2020). Although this form of mass extraterritorial naturalization is not illegal, it is considered troublesome...Show moreSince April 2019, Russia has conducted passportization in the Donbas region (Atland, 2020). Although this form of mass extraterritorial naturalization is not illegal, it is considered troublesome by the international community (Natoli, 2010; Peters, 2010; Traunmüller, 2013). Moreover, Eastern Ukraine is not the first conflicted area confronted with this practice (Hoffman & Chochia, 2018; Natoli, 2010). Since passportization is regarded as a potential security threat (Burkhardt et al., 2022b; Traunmüller, 2013), this thesis explores how Ukraine framed Russia’s passportization in the Donbas region between the 24th of April 2019 and the 23rd of February 2022. In particular, the analysis leans on securitization theory. A total of twenty-one official statements, speeches, and interviews by government representatives and President Zelenskyy were analyzed. Findings suggest that, indeed, the passportization is predominantly framed as a security threat.Show less
This research aims to contribute to the debates on the democratic deficit of the European Union by researching the added value of EU membership in the field of cybersecurity. One of the main...Show moreThis research aims to contribute to the debates on the democratic deficit of the European Union by researching the added value of EU membership in the field of cybersecurity. One of the main arguments when discussing the democratic deficit of the EU, argues that the EU fulfils its democratic purposes, if it works ‘for’ the people. By providing effective governance and polity, the EU membership makes cyberspace safer and more secure for its member states, which is beneficial for all EU citizens. The EU and its agencies facilitate effective and operative cooperation that works ‘for’ the people. This research focused on two member states as case studies, The Netherlands and Hungary and found evidence that the EU provides a trusted and operative environment which contributes to cybersecurity in unique ways like no other international cooperation. This research looks for evidence that Europeanization, securitization, and interdependence drive the integration in cybersecurity at the European level.Show less
Has the US-Mexico border security been redefined in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks? If so, how is this reflected in US policy and public discourse? This thesis considers...Show moreHas the US-Mexico border security been redefined in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks? If so, how is this reflected in US policy and public discourse? This thesis considers the period immediately prior to and after 9/11 and proposes to look into three distinctive policy areas, namely drug enforcement, immigration, and counter-terrorism. Incorporating theoretical insights from constructivism and the Copenhagen School of security studies, as well as conceptual accounts of discourse in post-structuralist understanding, the paper investigates the changing practice and politics of US border security before and after 9/11 and assesses implications on the US-Mexico bilateral relations. This analysis highlights a complex nexus o non-military factors that pertain to security; it contends that the border was discursively framed as a national security threat by turning it into the point of intersection between aspects traditionally perceived as "threats"- drug trafficking and immigration- and the discourse of the war on terror. Ultimately, it discusses how the US redefined the role played by its Southern border in order to serve its national interests and consolidate influence in the North American region.Show less
The main objective of this thesis is to examine whether the European Union experienced an upwards trend of securitization of asylum-seekers and migrants at their external borders. This will be...Show moreThe main objective of this thesis is to examine whether the European Union experienced an upwards trend of securitization of asylum-seekers and migrants at their external borders. This will be established by a case study applied on the securitization practices of Frontex. To investigate how Frontex is developed as a securitising actor in the EU asylum and migration issue, the activities of Frontex will be examined and labelled as securitization (or desecuritization) by comparing two time periods, namely the activities of Frontex during 2009 against 2018. In addition, Frontex's evolution in their level of autonomy (power) will be investigated to be able to determine their degree of impact on the securitization of the EU against EU asylum-seekers and migrants. This can also be used to determine their liability concerning the criticism of NGOs on the activities of Frontex in context of humanitarianism.Show less
This thesis sets out to explore the ways in which coverage of President Trump’s border wall in late-night political satire challenges geopolitical representations of Latin America and Mexico. In...Show moreThis thesis sets out to explore the ways in which coverage of President Trump’s border wall in late-night political satire challenges geopolitical representations of Latin America and Mexico. In doing so, it establishes the border wall as a product of securitization practices that were fueled by a constructed geopolitical imagery of Mexico and Latin America. However, the case study shows that televised political satire reshapes this threatening image by desecuritizing the issue of migration. Bringing together critical geopolitics, political satire, and critical security studies, this thesis fills a gap in literature by demonstrating that political satire can, and should, be taken seriously as an object of study for the field of critical geopolitics and International Relations, more broadly.Show less
The events of the 9/11 and the beginning of the global war on terror increased the securitization of Islamist terrorism in political discourses in order to justify the enactment of exceptional...Show moreThe events of the 9/11 and the beginning of the global war on terror increased the securitization of Islamist terrorism in political discourses in order to justify the enactment of exceptional measures by governments. Although being situated on the two extreme ends of the political spectrum, both French and Chinese governments engage in the securitization of Islamist terrorism. This thesis analyses how political discourses securitize Islamist terrorism comparatively in China and France. It relies on critical discourse analysis to analyze political discursive securitizing practices while situating textual elements in historical backgrounds to further understand securitization. Finally, it compares securitizations in China and France by highlighting the similarities and the differences between processes in both countries.Show less
The debate on climate change and migration has been a recurring theme in recent public discourse. Henceforth, through the utilisation of (de) securitization framework, this thesis observes the...Show moreThe debate on climate change and migration has been a recurring theme in recent public discourse. Henceforth, through the utilisation of (de) securitization framework, this thesis observes the perceptions of climate change and migration by the EU and Australia towards climate induced migration and the process of securitizing it as a threat. Consequently, it creates awareness and urges policy makers to realise the gravity of the issue and understand climate induced migrants as vulnerable populations. Hence, employing the process of de-securitization. Finally, by facilitating the process of de-securitization of climate induced migration, progress towards recognising ‘Climate refugees’ in the future could occur.Show less
¬This paper examines political discourse in the scope of states’ responses to the global refugee situation around 2015 where the “inhumane treatment of people has become socially acceptable”. It...Show more¬This paper examines political discourse in the scope of states’ responses to the global refugee situation around 2015 where the “inhumane treatment of people has become socially acceptable”. It examines both the blatant and covert ways in which discourse and rhetoric have been used by politicians as tools for maintaining power and order (particularly in the securitization of refugee issues) in the modern era. Through two speeches by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the Australian context is utilized as a case study to challenge this dominant narrative which reinforces the historically inequitable relationship between the Global North and South. This critical discourse analysis examines commonly drawn upon themes in postcolonial literature of “othering” that is being attributed to refugee persons. This intersectional study utilizes the framework of [what the author has deemed] the three C’s of colonialism, including: Conquest, Civilization, and Christianity. This paper aims to expose the significance of soft power notions in International Relations such as discourse and rhetoric.Show less
The 2008 US presidential election was notable for many reasons. Concerning environmental issues, both candidates, Barack Obama for the Democrats, and John McCain for the Republicans, took distance...Show moreThe 2008 US presidential election was notable for many reasons. Concerning environmental issues, both candidates, Barack Obama for the Democrats, and John McCain for the Republicans, took distance from the Bush administration. Obama’s victory more than ever brought a sparkle of hope for change. Environmentalists both in the United States and worldwide were pleased from his first actions as president, that looked up to what he campaigned the months before. This thesis analyses Obama’s rhetoric and practice on energy and climate change from his first presidential campaign trail in 2008 until the end of his second mandate in 2016, in order to assess whether he ‘walked the talk’ on environmental matters. Moreover, it considers Obama’s position as an environmentalist, by looking at the energy security discourse and at its implications for climate change and global security.Show less
This thesis researches the rise of China from a US political discourse perspective by taking a post-structuralist approach. It employs a critical discourse analysis to analyze elitist political...Show moreThis thesis researches the rise of China from a US political discourse perspective by taking a post-structuralist approach. It employs a critical discourse analysis to analyze elitist political discourse of the Obama administration for securitization moves of the rise of China. This research provides a unique perspective on the US-China security relationship and adds to the understanding how language shapes the meaning of security as well as foreign policy. This thesis shows that in discourse of the foreign policy executives of the Obama administration between May and October 2015 there are substantial instances in which the rise of China is being discussed as a threat to US economic and military securities. In line of this threat discourse, security measures are promoted and legitimized. These are among others: investing in military technology development, supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership, promoting Chinese economic reforms, and investment in developing cyber capabilities.Show less
This thesis will examine Abe’s push to constitutional reinterpretation and how the political left reacted to his argument by focusing on the following question: did the Japanese left-wing political...Show moreThis thesis will examine Abe’s push to constitutional reinterpretation and how the political left reacted to his argument by focusing on the following question: did the Japanese left-wing political actors reconsider their view on Article 9 and Japan’s current defense attitude? If the extreme political left of Japan has altered their stance on Abe and his push for reinterpretation, it means that the whole debate on Japanese defense policy is changing altogether. Therefore, Shinzō Abe might have had an impact on how Article 9 and Japan’s defense posture are perceived by the political left-wing. This will be analyzed through the model of securitization, as defined by the Copenhagen School of Security Studies. By applying this framework, this thesis will show how Abe attempts to securitize the issue of Japan’s national identity through addressing Japan’s defense capabilities and how the left-wing responds by counter-securitizing the issue of pacifism within national identity. The second goal of the thesis is to present the validity of the Copenhagen School’s framework by showing its applicability to the case of Japan’s constitutional reinterpretation. First, we shall analyze the literature on both Shinzō Abe’s reinterpretation attempt and the securitization model. Secondly, we will examine the nature of Abe’s push to constitutional reinterpretation by analyzing a book he wrote before he became prime minister and a book he wrote while he was prime minister. In this way, we can establish whether his stance has changed on reinterpreting the constitution. Then we will explore if and how Abe’s attempt for reinterpretation has reshaped the views of the political left in Japan. The effect of Abe’s push to reinterpret the constitution on popular opinion will be exposed by analyzing the phenomenon of counter-securitization by Japanese left-wing activists. We will look at in what manner the attempt has affected the left-wing in their rhetoric by examining scholarly articles on the subject. If this is the case, we might conclude that the Japanese extreme left is currently in the middle of a shift towards middle left.Show less
This thesis looks at whether or not Japanese prime minister Abe has framed the rise of China as a threat to Japan's security environment in order to exercise the right of collective self-defense; a...Show moreThis thesis looks at whether or not Japanese prime minister Abe has framed the rise of China as a threat to Japan's security environment in order to exercise the right of collective self-defense; a right that is currently banned under the Japanese constitution. Discourse analysis is used to analyze several incidents that have framed a China threat narrative. Based on the research, this thesis states that the Japanese government may have potentially framed China's rise in order to push for collective self-defense. Further research must be done in order to give a more general conclusion.Show less
The bombings in New York on 9 September 2001 (9/11) made the European Union (EU) realize that it would be necessary to change European policies to combat this form of terrorism. This asked for a...Show moreThe bombings in New York on 9 September 2001 (9/11) made the European Union (EU) realize that it would be necessary to change European policies to combat this form of terrorism. This asked for a strong cooperation between different elements of the EU, such as the EU self, Member States and the European Police Office (Europol). Although it is Europol’s role to gather information that comes from the Member States concerning terrorists’ acts or behaviour and to act as an umbrella organisation, the cooperation between Europol and the Member States is difficult. Even so, after 9/11 the EU was capable in creating the ‘Plan of Action on Combating Terrorism’ to create the first guidelines to prevent that the EU would also be a victim of this form of terrorism in the future. To understand what the effect was of this Plan, this thesis looks into the question to what extent the EU has been using arguments such as terrorism to incentivize the Member States to take action against terrorism. This thesis will argue that this Plan was not very successful. The member states should make more use of the EU’s and Europol’s capabilities and increase and improve the cooperation between them all and that the EU should enhance the capabilities of Europol. Furthermore, the Member States should not only act when there is a massive attack as on 9/11, because it is better to prevent certain attacks and to minimalize the consequences and victims.Show less
The purpose of this thesis is to explore and test whether framing climate change as a security issue impacts the way non-state actors can participate in national and global climate change...Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to explore and test whether framing climate change as a security issue impacts the way non-state actors can participate in national and global climate change policymaking. While it has been argued, in general terms, that securitizing an issue creates a state-centric security response, it has yet been untested to what extent this impacts environmental NGOs and civil society in climate change policymaking. After an analysis of the discourse on climate change over the past decade, I posit that since 2007 we have seen and will continue to see an increase of environmental NGOs indirectly excluded from climate change decision-making processes by states. This thesis, therefore, contends that climate change should be de-securitized and approached with a multidimensional climate change framework, incorporating a green theoretical standpoint. Drawing from an extensive questionnaire and two case-studies, I evaluate the role of non-state actors in climate change policymaking. The results suggest that the more climate change is framed as a security issue, the more non-state actors are indirectly excluded from climate change policymaking.Show less