(Re)constructing a hostile environment: political claims making and the primary definers of a refugee “crisis”

Citation

Montgomery T, Calo F & Baglioni S (2022) (Re)constructing a hostile environment: political claims making and the primary definers of a refugee “crisis”. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijssp-05-2022-0130

Abstract
Purpose In this article focused upon the UK context, the authors sought to better understand how political elites shaped public debate to reinforce rather than challenge the hostile policy environment for those seeking asylum. Design/methodology/approach The authors undertook a political claims analysis (Koopmans and Statham, 1999) focussing on a venue that has been pivotal in shaping the discourse around asylum issues in the UK, namely the print media. This work adopts a theoretical frame informed by the work of Stuart Hall to uncover the extent to which debates on asylum during the key period of the refugee emergency in Europe were shaped by political elites. Findings The study’s findings reveal the extent to which political elites acted as “primary definers” of the “crisis” and utilised that position to cast those arriving in Europe as a threat to be managed. Originality/value This research offers a contemporary worked example of political claims analysis in a topical subject area that colleagues across disciplines and contexts may find informative for their own research agendas.

Keywords
Media; Crisis; Refugee; Claims making; Political elites

Notes
Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Online

Journal
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

People

Dr Tom Montgomery

Lecturer in Work & Organisations, Management, Work and Organisation