Securitization of Migration In Turkish Newspapers (2015-2024): A Discourse Analysis Post-9/11 Within The Framework of The Copenhagen School

Authors : Beritan Kalkan Esen

Pages : 27-66

Doi:10.48131/jscs.1756954

View : 162 | Download : 539

Publication Date : 2025-12-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study examines how international migration has been securitized through media discourses from September 11, 2001 to the present. Within the framework of the Copenhagen School’s securitization theory, the analysis explores how migrants have been constructed as social threats and how these narratives have shaped public perceptions of security. It has been found that the media often portrays migrants as ‘potential threats,’ and that such discourses, by emphasizing cultural and ethnic differences, contribute to social polarization. The research is supported by media content and secondary data analysis, revealing changes over time in international migration movements and the number of migrants. Furthermore, discourse analysis based on sample news articles from newspapers demonstrates how migrants are depicted using various metaphors (e.g., ‘invasion,’ ‘wave,’ ‘burden’) and how these representations influence public perception toward migrants. The study emphasizes that through securitizing discourse, the media reinforces societal perceptions of migrants as economic, cultural, and security threats. In conclusion, the security threats constructed toward migrants through media discourse affect not only public acceptance but also shape state migration policies. This study reveals the interaction between the media and security policies and highlights the media’s transformative role in shaping social constructs.
Keywords : Göç, Güvenlik, Kopenhag Okulu, Güvenlikleştirme, Söylem

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