Högerpopulisten på besök

Abstract
Title: The right-wing populist visits – A critical discourse analysis of Swedish newspapers’ portrayal of the easter riots.
Authors: Emelie Nilsson
Level: Bachelor thesis in Journalism
Term: HT 2022
Supervisor: Marina Ghersetti

In April 2022, the right-wing politician Rasmus Paludan burns the holy book of islam, the Quran in part of a tour in several Swedish cities. This gets a lot of attention among the citizens of several Swedish cities as well as in the media’s reporting. As a consequence of Rasmus Paludan’s islamophobic manifestation came violent riots, violence against the police and vandalism. An event which in the Swedish press was named; “The easter riots”. This study has analyzed the media’s reporting of the event in two different journalistic genres; editorials and news articles. These genres were selected citing that they differ in terms of expression of opinions and values. In this context, the intention was to see if the basis of values could also be discerned in news articles. The analysis material was selected, of which three editorials and six news articles from the newspapers Aftonbladet, Svenska Dagbladet and Dagens Nyheter. The aim of the study has through a critical discourse analysis been able to interpret and analyze the material in order to discern on which base of values it rests. To
achieve the purpose of the study and identify the basis of values the following associated specified research questions was formulated:

– How is Rasmus Paludan and his party, Stram Kurs, described in the journalistic reporting related to the easter riots?
– How has the media portrayed those upset by Rasmus Paludan and his party?

The results of the study has shown that the context of the editorials and news articles matters when it comes to the expression of values. In the news articles, this shows when Muslims are allowed to speak out and are represented in the texts. Here a discussion appears about
Rasmus Paludan’s anti-islamic manifestations with reference to the fact that it can be regarded as agitation against muslims as an ethnic group. In the articles that were centered in a context where Muslims were not heard, instead a rhetoric appeared where the constitutional law, freedom of expression should be prioritized in politics. It appeared as a prerequisite for an open and free society.

Keywords: Right wing populist, extremist, muslims, islam, islamophobia, discourse, agency