Democratic Strength and Cowardly Barbarism?: a discourse-theoretic study on the gendering of terrorism in the Swedish political discourse
2016 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The aim of this study is to map out the gendered constructions of terrorism and terrorists within the Swedish political discourse. The starting point of the research are the recent terror attacks in Paris 2015 and in Brussels 2016, a time at which the Swedish government presented a number of new and more aggressive counterterrorism strategies for combating terrorism and Daesh. Seeking to understand how these strategies are justified and legitimized to the Swedish people, the study seeks to contribute to the literature of gender and terrorism, with a specific focus on gendered nationalism and masculinity. Based in the belief that everything in the social world is structured in gendered hierarchies of masculinities and femininities, a discourse theoretic analysis is carried out on Swedish government minister’s speeches and statements. Empirical findings indicate several gendered constructions; a hegemonic masculinization of Sweden and the EU and a subordinate masculinization and feminization of Daesh.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2016. , p. 48
Keywords [en]
gender, masculinity, femininity, terrorism, terrorists, Daesh, Sweden, EU, discourse, nationalism, self, other
National Category
Political Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-6255OAI: oai:DiVA.org:fhs-6255DiVA, id: diva2:948467
Subject / course
Statsvetenskap med inriktning mot krishantering och säkerhet (Master's programme in Politics and War)
Educational program
Master's programme in Politics and War
Supervisors
Examiners
2016-10-062016-07-122019-11-06Bibliographically approved