How Czech Politicians and Parties Securitise Refugees: Comparing the MENA and Ukrainian Crises

Abstract This comparative analysis scrutinises the distinctive features of the 2015 MENA and 2022 Ukrainian refugee crises in the Czech Republic, revealing notable differences in threat perceptions and stakeholder engagement while answering who was finally portrayed as the victim and by whom. Hence, the MENA crisis prompted EU-level action and migration system reform, and the Czech government was the leading securitisation actor; meanwhile, the Ukrainian crisis differs. Cultural and religious dimensions influenced negative perceptions of Muslim migrants, contrasting with the positive reception of Ukrainian refugees rooted in cultural affinities with the West rejection of Russian aggression. Despite that, during the Ukrainian case, the shift in threat perceptions from sovereignty to socio-economic concerns marked the latter. Our study shows that this was not done by the Czech government but by the opposition party groups. With a potential new MENA crisis on the horizon, both opposition and government persist in securitising migration. The 2025 parliamentary election is expected to spotlight migration, necessitating further exploration of evolving securitisation in Czechia.