Rhetoric, power, and the legitimization of asylum policies. A critical discourse analysis of swiss parliamentary speech across three refugee movements

Abstract

This thesis critically explores Swiss parliamentary discourse on refugees during three key moments: the Balkan refugee movements of the 1990s, the 2015 refugee movements, and the Ukrainian refugee movement starting in 2022. The project employs qualitative content analysis as a starting point. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, the study examines how political language shapes perceptions of different refugee groups, legitimizes policy decisions through language, and thereby reproduces power dynamics. The portrayal of the three refugee movements at stake reveals contrasting results. During the Balkan wars, refugees were often described as victims. Religion dominated the discourse in 2015, with Muslims often depicted as threats. In 2022, Ukrainian refugees were framed in more neutral terms, suggesting a closer identification with the Swiss “in-group”. This thesis also highlights the notion of conditional solidarity that Switzerland uses, mirroring Switzerland’s past as a transmigration country. A critical finding is the Federal Council’s contradictory legal reasoning for the permit S, which reveals how inequality is reproduced and normalized through political discourse. While this thesis provides an in-depth case study on Switzerland, it contributes to broader discussions on how political discourse influences human rights compliance, social inclusion of refugees, and the justification of exclusionary policies.