Protecting the Cross and Welcoming the Stranger : A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Church of Sweden’s Refugee Work the Year 2017

Abstract: Through the application of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)— and paying extra attention to the utilization of ideological squaring, actor descriptions, and lexicalization— this thesis aims to discuss the Church of Sweden’s “official” discourse regarding its humanitarian and social engagement with refugees and refugee issues the year 2017. Wherein, the author attempts to discuss what the collected material— from the internet-based function Support migration, and personal semi-structured interviews with Church personnel— can tell one about the Church’s views on its self-identity, social engagement, as well as ecumenical and interreligious relations, in an increasingly diverse Swedish society. Central for this thesis is how ideology functions, and how “us and them” divisions are constructed, within the discourse, regarding the Church’s refugee work. It can be argued that a key finding of this thesis is how the Church’s discourse generally sets itself against popular contemporary categorizations of refugees as threats, in addition to classic “us and them” distinctions that often serve to demonize the religious and cultural other— which have become observable within contemporary debates regarding refugees in the Global North. Instead, it could be argued that, at least regarding these issues, the Church of Sweden provides an alternative and critical voice in these matters. However, “us and them” divisions can still be observable. Where, for instance the “us” of the Church that is presented as a moral force in society— which has a responsibility to guard human dignity— is set in opposition against “them”, which are depicted as external marginalized voices which threaten both its mission and identity.