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The Securitization of Infectious Disease A Comparative Study of the 2009 Swine Influenza Pandemic in Germany and Sweden

Kassem, Joe-Philipp LU (2012) STVK01 20121
Department of Political Science
Abstract
It is the purpose of this paper to compare the securitization processes of the A(H1N1) virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, in Sweden and Germany. Based on the recognition that these countries, for all intents and purposes, are very similar it is the aim of this essay to understand how the results of their respective securitization processes could be so widely different. This study is conducted as an analysis on several points of comparison which portray the two separate processes with respect to medial aspects, political actors, legal aspects, historical connotations and the audience. These points are also representative of the securitization process in general. Based on the demonstrated differences and similarities the essay... (More)
It is the purpose of this paper to compare the securitization processes of the A(H1N1) virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, in Sweden and Germany. Based on the recognition that these countries, for all intents and purposes, are very similar it is the aim of this essay to understand how the results of their respective securitization processes could be so widely different. This study is conducted as an analysis on several points of comparison which portray the two separate processes with respect to medial aspects, political actors, legal aspects, historical connotations and the audience. These points are also representative of the securitization process in general. Based on the demonstrated differences and similarities the essay provides central insights as to what caused these differences and thus hints at what differences in process can be linked to the difference in outcome. This essay concludes that the difference in the outcome of the two securitization processes are due to variations in the institutionalization of securitization of infectious disease, the risk perception among the public and the use of historical connotations made by the securitizing actors. Furthermore it is established that the audience plays a central role in any securitization process due to its ability to either accept or dismiss any framing of an issue provided by a securitizing actor. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Kassem, Joe-Philipp LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK01 20121
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Securitization, A(H1N1), Germany, Sweden, WHO
language
English
id
2542646
date added to LUP
2012-06-27 10:47:08
date last changed
2012-06-27 10:47:08
@misc{2542646,
  abstract     = {{It is the purpose of this paper to compare the securitization processes of the A(H1N1) virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, in Sweden and Germany. Based on the recognition that these countries, for all intents and purposes, are very similar it is the aim of this essay to understand how the results of their respective securitization processes could be so widely different. This study is conducted as an analysis on several points of comparison which portray the two separate processes with respect to medial aspects, political actors, legal aspects, historical connotations and the audience. These points are also representative of the securitization process in general. Based on the demonstrated differences and similarities the essay provides central insights as to what caused these differences and thus hints at what differences in process can be linked to the difference in outcome. This essay concludes that the difference in the outcome of the two securitization processes are due to variations in the institutionalization of securitization of infectious disease, the risk perception among the public and the use of historical connotations made by the securitizing actors. Furthermore it is established that the audience plays a central role in any securitization process due to its ability to either accept or dismiss any framing of an issue provided by a securitizing actor.}},
  author       = {{Kassem, Joe-Philipp}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Securitization of Infectious Disease A Comparative Study of the 2009 Swine Influenza Pandemic in Germany and Sweden}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}