Exploring the British newspapers´ representation of Private Security Companies in detention centres in the UK Ayla Arslan Waltersson Global Studies, University of Gothenburg Examensarbete för kandidatexamen i Globala studier Bachelor thesis in Global Studies, GS1511 Spring term 2023 Supervisor: Aly Verjee Word count

Abstract

This thesis investigates the prominent narratives on Private Security Companies (PSCs) in British news articles surrounding privatised detention centres for immigrants and asylum seekers. PSCs have become increasingly significant in migration-related activities, not least in neoliberal states such as the UK. This essay claims that the British media challenge the UK’s neoliberal discourse, which enhances the expert position of security contractors in the political discourse surrounding privatised detention centres by relying upon and creating contracts with these contractors. This neoliberalism discourse which means that market-driven solutions enhance responsibility and efficiency conflicts with the discourses found in the British media. In addition, the portrayal of PSCs in media tends to include a negative connotation, whereas previous literature has found connotations which refer to PSCs as “uncontrolled abusers” and emphases the lack of accountability and transparency. British media tends to illustrate assessments that assume privatisation undermines the public authority and control and is associated with Human Rights violations. This research uses Foucaudian discourse analysis and illuminates Foucault's power relations, how they might explain the development of discourses about PSCs in immigration detention centres, and whether or not they challenge or uphold neoliberalism.