When in Britian, do as the British do?: The Impact of British Political Discourse on the Decline of Multiculturalism
Author
Boisen, Sophie
Term
10. term
Publication year
2011
Submitted on
2011-07-28
Pages
87
Abstract
This thesis examines how British political discourse has shaped the widely discussed retreat from multiculturalism. Although the UK never formalized multiculturalism as state policy, successive measures and a long history of immigration often marked it as a multicultural case. Using Critical Discourse Analysis of speeches by leaders of the Labour and Conservative parties from 2000–2011, and drawing on Michel Foucault and Norman Fairclough, the study traces shifts in talk about multiculturalism, immigration, and social cohesion around 9/11 and the 7/7 London bombings. It situates these discourses in their social context and briefly compares them with trends in Western Europe. The analysis identifies a clear turn away from multiculturalism, characterized by greater emphasis on national cohesion and identity and tougher demands on immigrants. While 9/11 and 7/7 were pivotal catalysts, similar changes across Western Europe suggest a broader regional shift.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan britisk politisk diskurs har formet den omtalte retræte fra multikulturalisme. Selvom Storbritannien aldrig formelt har haft multikulturalisme som statspraksis, har landet gennemført politikker, der ofte har givet det ry som multikulturelt, ikke mindst på grund af en lang migrationshistorie. Med kritisk diskursanalyse af taler fra ledere af Labour og Conservative i perioden 2000–2011, og med teoretisk afsæt i Michel Foucault og Norman Fairclough, analyseres udviklingen i omtalen af multikulturalisme, immigration og social sammenhængskraft omkring 9/11 og London-bomberne 7/7. Analysen placerer diskurserne i deres sociale kontekst og sammenligner kort med udviklinger i Vesteuropa. Resultaterne peger på et tydeligt skifte væk fra multikulturalisme, kendetegnet ved stærkere fokus på national samhørighed og identitet samt strammere krav til indvandrere. Begivenhederne 9/11 og 7/7 var vigtige katalysatorer, men parallelle ændringer i flere vesteuropæiske lande tyder på en bredere regional tendens.
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