Abstract
The term ‘vulnerable areas’ is developed by the Swedish police, referring to various areas in Sweden that are classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged, and with an active criminal presence. Over time, this term has gained significant popularity and is now used not only by the police but also by other entities such as the media, where these areas are often depicted as urban outcasts. Therefore, this study focuses on the portrayal of ‘vulnerable areas’ in the Swedish news media, where the topic has been widely debated in recent years. The study used a critical discourse analysis as its method and drew upon social constructivism, discourse theory, and theories of stigmatization as its theoretical framework. A total of twelve articles were selected and analyzed from the four leading newspapers in Sweden; Aftonbladet, Expressen, Svenska Dagbladet and Dagens Nyheter. The results of the critical discourse analysis revealed that the media tends to present socioeconomically deprived areas in a negative light. These areas are often associated with various societal problems such as crime, low-quality education, and academic challenges. Additionally, t
Essay competition for students
Martin Lindqvist, Department of History at Stockholm University, with the essay “Tack för det Televerket!” (Thanks a bunch, Televerket!). An analysis of the Riksdag debates between and leading up to Telia’s introduction on the stock market”.
The essay highlights publicly versus privately run welfare, by examining the transition of the former state-owned telecommunications company Televerket to a private company.
From the prize committee’s citation: The essay highlights the central issue in politics of publicly versus privately run welfare, by examining the transition of the former state-owned telecommunications company Televerket to a private company. The author demonstrates impressive analytical, theoretical and pedagogical skills in his analysis of the political debate, inter alia, in the Chamber.
Read the essay “Tack för det Televerket!” (Thanks a bunch, Televerket!) by Martin Lindqvist (In Swedish, pdf kB)
Jeanette Ohlsson Rian, Department of Political Science at Uppsala University, has written the essay “Descriptive representation during a crisis”.
The essay highlights how representation changes in national parliaments during a crisi
Utanförskapet misstänkliggjort - En komparativ diskursanalys av Socialdemokraterna och Moderaterna mellan -
Sammanfattning: As a result of Rasmus Paludan's planned burning of the Koran during the Easter weekend, several riots broke out in different parts of Sweden. Some party leaders condemned the violence but also linked the events to growing social exclusion in society. This study examines the changes within the discourse of the Moderates and the Social Democrats as regards the concept of social exclusion. Using Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe’s discourse theory to analyse parliamentary debates between and , the study found major discursive changes. Primarily, new perspectives emerged regarding what constitutes “Swedish society” and what does not. Oftentimes, different forms of exclusion were used as an opposing backdrop to define these constituent parts. Both parties show a discursive tendency to highlight the importance of employment and non-dependency on welfare. Additionally, the exclusion was found to be more frequently described along aspects such as foreign background, religion and culture as well as sometimes inferring causality therein. Finally, each party has red
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