Talking Solidarity and the Burden of Saving Lives : A Qualitative Case Study on the Common European Asylum System

Abstract: This thesis examines the difficulties encountered in the process of establishing the CommonEuropean Asylum System, taken from a discursive perspective. The focus of the study isthreefold; why are specific issues highlighted by the European Union Member States, how isthe discursive conflict expressed within the discourse on CEAS, and what definitions ofsolidarity are promoted by the Member States. In purpose of addressing these focuses,discourse theory, issue salience and solidarity through burden sharing are used as theoreticalframework. By applying critical method and discourse analysis, this study has managed toestablish that the security issues are among the most highlighted, whereas the geographicallocation of a Member State seems to be an explanatory factor to a Member State’s specificemphasis. Regarding the discursive conflict, the definitions of the concepts mutual trust, fairdistribution and cooperation are especially contested. Furthermore, the external dimension ofsolidarity is proven to be the precedent definition of solidarity.