We MUST Talk About the Discourse the Changing European Landscape
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Aristotle University of Thessaloniki European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation A.Y. 2018/2019 We MUST talk about the discourse The changing European Landscape. A critical discourse analysis of Danish law amendments from 2015-2018 Author: Laura Arendse Bergsli Hansen Supervisor: Yannis Stavrakakis WE MUST TALK ABOUT THE DISCOURSE ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to gain understanding of the contemporary discursive landscape and the legitimation strategies used, when arguing in favour of laws and amendments which is criticized by the human rights community, or which are directly contesting the human rights. The thesis examines to what extent, the contemporary political discourse has an effect on the justification of three amendments implemented in Denmark from 2015-2018. The aim is to get closer to an understanding of why and how policies, which are openly contesting human rights, are being passed by a parliamentary majority in the Danish parliament. Furthermore, the thesis reflects on how these reproduced discourses are gambling with the reputation of human rights. The research examines the political discourses and the legitimation strategies, through a critical discourse analysis of three parliamentary debates in Denmark, in the time frame 2015-2018. A thematic analysis is conducted, and themes are established by thematic coding. The results helped to gain a better understanding of what has led to the discursive status quo in the Danish political landscape. By concentrating on amendments, the thesis emphasized the importance of the political discourse and the power of the policy makers. The findings suggest, that the discourses and legitimation strategies used in Danish parliament justifies policy making which fundamentally goes against the original intention of the human rights and indirectly justifies human rights abuses. 2 LAURA ARENDSE BERGSLI HANSEN ”A bitter hate towards certain other people is being bred here in such a manner, that it is deemed a virtue to avoid helping strangers find their way. Abuse of patriotism and the paternal religion, results in the possibility of retaining one’s decency, while hating and persecuting the ones that is not a part of our society or church. This misanthropy makes us hated and the laughingstock among other nations, because we pursue the national virtue with such an extreme eagerness, that we violate the natural law of love and compassion for all people. “ Ludvig Holberg, Moralske Tanker, 17441 1 Ludvig Holberg, Moralske Tanker, (Copenhagen, 1744) Prominent Danish/Norwegian author who is considered the father of Danish litterature 3 WE MUST TALK ABOUT THE DISCOURSE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the UNESCO chair of Aristotle University for hosting my research and warmly welcoming me. I would like to thank professor Yannis Stavrakakis, who has been a dedicated and patient supervisor. I would like to thank my loved ones back home in Denmark, who has provided me with support and encouragement when I needed it most. Finally, I would like to thank my friend Rachael with whom I shared advice, ideas and many cups of coffees, in the process of writing the research. Without all of you, this research wouldn’t have been possible. 4 LAURA ARENDSE BERGSLI HANSEN TABLE OF ACRONYMS CDA – Critical Discourse Analysis ECHR – European Convention on Human Rights ECtHR – European Court of Human Rights UDHR – Universal Declaration of Human Rights UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHRC – United Nations Human Rights Council UNCRC – United Nations Children’s Rights Convention Danish Political Parties: SD - Social Democrats V – Venstre, Denmark’s Liberal Party DPP – Danish People’s Party DSLP – Danish Social Liberal Party RGA – Red-Green Alliance SPP – Socialist People’s Party C – Conservative People’s Party A – The Alternative LA – Liberal Alliance 5 WE MUST TALK ABOUT THE DISCOURSE TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER I ........................................................................................................................................................... 12 1. A CHANGING EUROPEAN LANDSCAPE ...................................................................................................... 12 1.1. A CLASH? TERRORISM, GLOBALISATION AND THE REFUGEE ‘CRISIS’ .......................................................................... 12 1.1.2 The troubled relationship between universality and particularity ................................................................. 14 1.1.3 The Europe of yesterday ................................................................................................................................. 16 1.1.4. Immigration waves reaching European shores ............................................................................................. 18 1.2 SECURITIZATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 1.3 XENOPHOBIA AND THE POLITICS OF FEAR ................................................................................................................. 23 1.3.1 The antagonistic Other ................................................................................................................................... 24 1.3.2 The rise of the extreme right parties in Europe and the mainstreaming of the extreme right agenda ........... 25 1.4 THE ISSUE OF NEW/CULTURAL RACISM ...................................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER II .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 2. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 31 2.1 METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS .............................................................................................................. 31 2.1.1 Critical Discourse Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 32 2.1.2 Analytical tools .............................................................................................................................................. 35 2.1.3 Coding/categorical indexing .......................................................................................................................... 36 2.1.4 Research questions ......................................................................................................................................... 37 2.1.5 Legitimation ................................................................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER III ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 3. CONTEXTUALISING ....................................................................................................................................... 40 3.1 IS SOMETHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK? ................................................................................................. 40 3.1.1 Denmark and the political landscape ............................................................................................................. 42 3.1.2 The race of becoming the least attractive country ......................................................................................... 46 3.2 THE CORPUS FOR ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................................... 48 3.2.1 Politicians and their discursive powerful position ......................................................................................... 49 3.2.2 Danish parliamentary debates ....................................................................................................................... 51 3.3 THE FAR-RIGHT AND THE MAINSTREAM ..................................................................................................................... 52 CHAPTER IV ........................................................................................................................................................ 54 4. DANISH AMENDMENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ......................................................................................... 54 4.1 INTRODUCTION TO ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................................................... 54 4.2 BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION OF THE THREE AMENDMENTS .............................................................................. 55 4.2.1 “The Burqa Ban” L219 .................................................................................................................................. 55 4.2.2 “The Jewellery Law” L87 .............................................................................................................................. 57 4.2.3 “The Ghetto Law” L38 .................................................................................................................................. 61 4.3 ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................................................