Borders Real and Imagined: Challenges Facing Refugees and Migrants in Modern Britain
Author
Richards, James Peeter
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-10-31
Pages
55
Abstract
This thesis examines the relationship between terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists and public attitudes and treatment of refugees and migrants in the United Kingdom, and how these dynamics intersect with questions of identity. Using an exploratory, desk-based design, the study reviews peer-reviewed literature, official reports, public opinion data, and media coverage, and applies discourse analysis informed by theories of late modernity and risk as well as concepts of othering, globalisation, and moral panics. Across topics including timelines of attacks, migration patterns, radicalisation, hate crime statistics, and policy responses, the review finds that contemporary attitudes are largely driven by concerns about the economic and cultural impact of migration; that media and political narratives often diverge from available facts; and that growing fear has coincided with increases in hate crime directed at migrants. It also notes that imprecise language frequently conflates refugees with other categories of migrants. While the direct causal impact of terrorism on attitudes and policies remains inconclusive, public safety concerns may have contributed to trends in violent crime and to the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. The thesis recommends clearer, more precise terminology and greater attention to positive aspects of migration, while acknowledging its exploratory scope and limits.
Dette speciale undersøger forholdet mellem terrorangreb begået af islamiske fundamentalister og offentlighedens holdninger og behandling af flygtninge og migranter i Storbritannien, samt hvordan disse dynamikker hænger sammen med spørgsmål om identitet. Med et eksplorativt, deskbaseret design gennemgås fagfællebedømt litteratur, officielle rapporter, opinionsmålinger og mediedækning, og der anvendes diskursanalyse informeret af teorier om senmodernitet og risiko samt begreber som othering, globalisering og moralske panikker. På tværs af emner som tidslinjer for angreb, migrationsmønstre, radikalisering, hadkriminalitetsstatistik og politiske tiltag viser gennemgangen, at holdninger i høj grad præges af bekymringer for migrationens økonomiske og kulturelle konsekvenser; at medie- og politiske fortællinger ofte afviger fra tilgængelige fakta; og at en voksende frygt er ledsaget af flere hadforbrydelser mod migranter. Det bemærkes også, at upræcis sprogbrug ofte sammenblander flygtninge med andre migrantkategorier. Selvom terrorens direkte virkning på holdninger og politik forbliver uklar, kan offentlighedens sikkerhedsbekymringer have bidraget til tendenser i voldskriminalitet og Storbritanniens beslutning om at forlade EU. Specialet anbefaler mere præcis terminologi og større fokus på migrationens positive sider, samtidig med at det anerkender sit eksplorative sigte og begrænsninger.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]