Abstracts Political Science

Add abstract

Want to add your dissertation abstract to this database? It only takes a minute!

Search abstract

Search for abstracts by subject, author or institution

Share this abstract

dissertation.com
on Facebook

Democratic Strength and Cowardly Barbarism?

by Emelie Svensson

Institution:	Swedish National Defense College
Year:	2016
Keywords:	gender; masculinity; femininity; terrorism; terrorists; Daesh; Sweden; EU; discourse; nationalism; self; other; Social Sciences; Political Science; Samhällsvetenskap; Statsvetenskap; Master's programme in Politics and War; Master's programme in Poli
Posted:	02/05/2017
Record ID:	2133709
Full text PDF:	http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-6255

Abstract

The aim of this study is to map out the gendered constructions of terrorism and terrorists within the Swedish political discourse. The starting point of the research are the recent terror attacks in Paris 2015 and in Brussels 2016, a time at which the Swedish government presented a number of new and more aggressive counterterrorism strategies for combating terrorism and Daesh. Seeking to understand how these strategies are justified and legitimized to the Swedish people, the study seeks to contribute to the literature of gender and terrorism, with a specific focus on gendered nationalism and masculinity. Based in the belief that everything in the social world is structured in gendered hierarchies of masculinities and femininities, a discourse theoretic analysis is carried out on Swedish government minister’s speeches and statements. Empirical findings indicate several gendered constructions; a hegemonic masculinization of Sweden and the EU and a subordinate masculinization and feminization of Daesh.