Favouritism in migration policy? : A discourse analysis on the rhetoric around Ukrainian refugees, as compared to other migrants and refugees, in the Swedish parliament

Abstract: After the attack on Ukraine in 2022, the European Union member states have experienced a major migration wave. This gave the EU opportunity to activate the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time, a framework that was created due to the effects of the Yugoslavian civil war in 2001 and which gives refugees certain rights upon arrival in any EU member state. This is also valid in Sweden. However, Sweden has recently been subject to a change in government which pursues a more restrictive migration policy, and an increasingly harsh and discriminatory rhetoric against migrants. Despite this, Ukrainian migrants seem to be exempt from the negative rhetoric pursued by Swedish political parties. This study aims to review whether and how the Swedish parliament justifies this seemingly preferential treatment. The research adds to the discussion on refugees and migrants in Sweden, particularly to the debate on xenophobia and threat perceptions against migrants, by using the theory of “new racism” and the integrated threat theory. The study applies comparative critical discourse analysis on perceptions of refugees and migrants in general, and towards Ukrainian refugees in particular, as expressed in the Swedish parliament from 2015-2023. The data used were gathered from discussions, debates, and protocols on policy regarding migration and integration in the Swedish parliament. The findings showcase a difference in the discourse around Ukrainian refugees and other, where the discourse about Ukrainians is more positive. This has implications for other refugee and migrant groups in Sweden, and in other EU countries. The discourse conducted by the Swedish parliament can incite violent sentiments in the Swedish population and promote further segregation in society.