The Discourse of CCTV in Stockholm’s Subway System : Analysis of Svenska Dagbladet 1995–2015

Abstract: The thesis explores how the theory of Securitization, defined by Buzan, Wæver and de Wildes, can be applied to the discourse related to CCTVs in the subway of Stockholm. It analyses 20 articles from the major Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet from 1995 to 2015. Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis is used as main methodology, scrutinizing the texts from a discourse practical perspective, text perspective, and sociopolitical perspective.   The main finding from the thesis is that the theory of Securitization needs to be enhanced with a “Politically Non-controversial” dimension and a “Politically Controversial” dimension, extending the previous “Political” Securitization dimension. With that updated Securitization definition, the discourse of the articles in the thesis follows the model of Securitization. Thus, the CCTV discourse regarding the subway of Stockholm has from 1995 to 2015 transformed from politically non-controversial, to politically controversial and finally securitized.