Me, Us and Them – Identity Politics in Swedish Press An argumentation analysis of the identity politics debate in Swedish Press 2014 Rasmus Franzén Master thesis in Media and Communication Studies Supervisor: Yvonne Andersson Master’s programme in Media and Communication Studies Examinator: Sven Ross Spring semester 2015 Rasmus Franzén Master’s programme in Media & Communication Studies IMS, Stockholm University Abstract The aim of this thesis is to apply an argumentation analysis to editorials and culture articles from the four largest newspapers in Sweden, all in which the concept of identity politics is debated. The reason for this is due to a more frequent debate wherein new actors have found new platforms to debate. In the articles the concept was discussed in the context of political ideologies, marginalised groups and structures of oppression. Theories of intersectionality, power and ideology is applied to find answers regarding whose discourse is presented in the identity politics debate, how it is presented, what concepts are being used, and what underlying meaning they might have. Using identity politics becomes a method for many groups (including trans-activists, racialised Left wing, and racists) to set new agendas, raising their voices, or silencing opponents. Symbolic actors seem to believe that they are given the power to construct a discourse that is considered to be the “unbiased” true reality. Keywords: Identity politics, symbolic actors, Intersectionality, Power, Ideology. 2 Rasmus Franzén Master’s programme in Media & Communication Studies IMS, Stockholm University Rasmus Franzén Master’s programme in Media & Communication Studies IMS, Stockholm University Index 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 THE PURPOSE OF THE THESIS .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 HYPOTHESIS AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS .......................................................................................................... 3 1.4 DISPOSITION ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 1.5 THE NEWSPAPERS .................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 SELECTION OF MATERIAL .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 LIMITATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.8 CONCEPTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.8.1 Hen ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.8.2 Cis ............................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.8.2 Gender & Sex .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.8.3 Racialised ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 1.8.4 Afro-phobia ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.8.5 Ideology ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.8.6 SymBolic actors .................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.8.6 Sensational Journalism & TaBloidisation ................................................................................................. 9 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 CREATING IDENTITIES IN SWEDEN .................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.2 US VERSUS THEM – FINDING THE OTHERS ..................................................................................................... 13 3 THEORIES ................................................................................................................................................ 16 3.1 JOURNALISM ............................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2 IDENTITY POLITICS ................................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES ......................................................................................................................................... 20 3.3 INTERSECTIONALITY ................................................................................................................................................ 22 3.3.1 Multiple Levels of Domination .................................................................................................................... 22 3.4 POWER ........................................................................................................................................................................ 25 4 METHOD .................................................................................................................................................. 27 4.1 ARGUMENTATION ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................. 27 4.1.1 Conclusive power .......................................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.2 Sustainability ................................................................................................................................................. 28 4.1.3 Relevance ......................................................................................................................................................... 29 4.1.4 Different sorts of arguments ................................................................................................................... 29 4.2 OPERATIONALISATION ............................................................................................................................................. 32 4.3 EVALUATION OF THE RESEARCH QUALITY ...................................................................................................... 35 5 ANALYSIS AND RESULT ...................................................................................................................... 37 5.1 THE ANALYSES .......................................................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.1 Analysis 1 ............................................................................................................................................................. 37 5.1.2 Analysis 2 ............................................................................................................................................................. 38 5.1.3 Analysis 3 ............................................................................................................................................................. 40 5.1.4 Analysis 4 ............................................................................................................................................................. 41 5.1.5 Analysis 5 ............................................................................................................................................................. 42 5.1.6 Analysis 6 ............................................................................................................................................................. 43 5.1.7 Analysis 7 ............................................................................................................................................................. 44 5.1.8 Analysis 8 ............................................................................................................................................................. 46 5.1.9 Analysis 9 ............................................................................................................................................................. 47 5.1.10 Analysis 10 .......................................................................................................................................................