Anti-Semitism, Securitization and the Media: Analyzing the role of media in relation to the increasing notion of anti-Semitism in Sweden - An issue for securitization?

Abstract: This paper has examined the potential power of media in relation to ‘security’ for the Jews in the Swedish society. My intention was to find out whether media constitute a risk for the increasing notion of anti-Semitism which also enhances the threat for the Jews in Sweden to become a security matter and therefore result in a need for securitization. The analysis has been done partly through presentation of material which gives us the understanding that anti-Semitism is spreading in Sweden in relation to escalations of conflicts in the Middle East. A critical discourse analysis of two Swedish newspapers has been made, in order to see whether these papers did present a biased view over the ‘Cast Lead’ offensive in Gaza from Dec 27, 2008 to Jan 18, 2009 which eventually results in these negative notions against Jews in Sweden. The critical situation for the Jews has then been placed in relation to security where the paper looked closer upon whether the situation for the Jews has become severe to the extent that it is in need of a securitization act in order to protect the Jewish minority group in Sweden.