Paradigmskiftet i svensk migrationspolitik: En studie kring säkerhetiseringsförsöket av migration i samband med det svenska riksdagsvalet 2022

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the securitization move on migration around the general election in Sweden during the year of 2022. The material which have been chosen to analyze consists of a political debate held by Aftonbladet, where the statement held by Jimmie Åkesson, the party leader of the Swedish democrats is the prime focus, as well as Tidöavtalet, where the segment regarding migration and segregation is the focal point. The research methodology chosen is a critical discourse analysis, which is used to analyze the selected material by looking at the linguistic aspects of the speech act and text in the material. Furthermore, the theoretical framework in question, comprised of securitization theory in accordance with the Copenhagen school is deemed highly compatible with the study’s analytical framework in the sense that the most central aspect of it consists of looking at security through speech acts. By applying the analytical and theoretical framework on the chosen material it allows for a deeper understanding of in which ways actors might try to construct an issue as a security issue. The results of the study observe that the state and nation are the main entities that are perceived to be under threat by migration, through it´s negative effects on the economy, welfare as well as the Swedish homogenous culture and identity. The construction of the threat is made through a parallel being drawn between the unsatisfactory economic state of the country and the cost of migration in addition to migrants being portrayed as work-shy, a strain on society, criminals and incompatible with Sweden in virtue of it being a welfare state where everyone has to contribute.