Narrative of Refugeeness in Sweden : Shifting representations over time

This study examines shifts in Swedish media representations of refugees over three decades by analyzing coverage of refugees from Yugoslavia (1992), Syria (2015), and Ukraine (2022) in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Through frame analysis, the research reveals how media narratives reconcile Sweden’s humanitarian self-image with increasingly restrictive refugee policies. While institutional responsibility remains the dominant frame across all periods, representing 65 percent of coverage, significant variations emerge in the portrayal of different refugee groups. Coverage of Yugoslav refugees focused on bureaucratic management and deservingness, Syrian refugee coverage emphasized both humanitarian concerns and security threats, and Ukrainian refugee coverage highlighted institutional barriers to integration while portraying them as culturally compatible and deserving. The study introduces the concept of “inclusive othering” to describe the subtle mechanisms of differentiation in Ukrainian refugee coverage. These findings demonstrate how media framing contributes to the politicization of refugees while maintaining Sweden’s self perception as a humanitarian nation, even as policies become more restrictive.