Security threat, or victims? A critical discourse analysis of the securitization of the Syrian refugees in the Lebanese media during the 2018 Lebanese general elections

• Main Author: Hraishawi, Sarah Samir
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för Asien-, Mellanöstern- och Turkietstudier 2021
• Subjects: Securitization; Syrian refugees; Lebanon; Media discourse; Critical discourse analysis; coding; Other Humanities not elsewhere specified; Övrig annan humaniora
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-199339

The aim of this paper was to study whether or not the 2018 Lebanese general election had contributed in the securitization of the Syrian refugees in the Lebanese media discourse. The thesis also looked at if the Syrian refugees were portrayed as victims in the same media outlets. The main focus was on two Lebanese digital media which are Al-Manar, and Al- Akhbar. This study relied on the Securitization theory and Critical Discourse analysis to understand the issue presented. With the help of the securitization theory and critical discourse analysis it can be argued that the Lebanese election did not directly influence the media discourse in the country, it did however, intensify the media reporting on the Syrian refugees during that time. Furthermore, the discourse did become harsher during the election time. Finally, with the help of images used in the chosen articles, the Syrian refugees often times were portrayed as victims in the chosen media for different political reasons.