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Rethinking intergroup relations - A comparative study of threat perceptions in Estonian and Lithuanian political discourse 2014-2018

Tedrup, Carl LU (2019) STVM25 20191
Department of Political Science
Abstract
With the purpose of contributing to research on the relation between identity and threat perception, this thesis comparatively examines Estonian and Lithuanian political discourse for the period of 2014-2018. Case selection is based on relatively significant difference in Russian minority population in Estonia and Lithuania. Applying Social Identity Theory, the thesis uses conceptualisations of intergroup relations, such as in-group and out-group to examine to what extent Russia is perceived as a threat and how the impact of the Russian minority on threat perception can be understood. Empirical material based on intelligence reports and official statements and speeches are analysed through discourse analysis with specific attention paid to... (More)
With the purpose of contributing to research on the relation between identity and threat perception, this thesis comparatively examines Estonian and Lithuanian political discourse for the period of 2014-2018. Case selection is based on relatively significant difference in Russian minority population in Estonia and Lithuania. Applying Social Identity Theory, the thesis uses conceptualisations of intergroup relations, such as in-group and out-group to examine to what extent Russia is perceived as a threat and how the impact of the Russian minority on threat perception can be understood. Empirical material based on intelligence reports and official statements and speeches are analysed through discourse analysis with specific attention paid to the textual mechanisms of predicate analysis and subject positioning. Through a theory-based analytical framework, the out-groups of the Russian minority as well as Russia are focused on for each case. Key findings include the Russian minority and Russia being discursively framed as “others” in both cases. The findings also show no indication that difference in Russian minority population has significance for threat perception, as it is largely similar in Estonian and Lithuanian discourse. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Tedrup, Carl LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM25 20191
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
threat perception, Estonia, Lithuania, Social Identity Theory, discourse analysis
language
English
id
8975429
date added to LUP
2019-09-06 09:25:34
date last changed
2019-09-06 09:25:39
@misc{8975429,
  abstract     = {{With the purpose of contributing to research on the relation between identity and threat perception, this thesis comparatively examines Estonian and Lithuanian political discourse for the period of 2014-2018. Case selection is based on relatively significant difference in Russian minority population in Estonia and Lithuania. Applying Social Identity Theory, the thesis uses conceptualisations of intergroup relations, such as in-group and out-group to examine to what extent Russia is perceived as a threat and how the impact of the Russian minority on threat perception can be understood. Empirical material based on intelligence reports and official statements and speeches are analysed through discourse analysis with specific attention paid to the textual mechanisms of predicate analysis and subject positioning. Through a theory-based analytical framework, the out-groups of the Russian minority as well as Russia are focused on for each case. Key findings include the Russian minority and Russia being discursively framed as “others” in both cases. The findings also show no indication that difference in Russian minority population has significance for threat perception, as it is largely similar in Estonian and Lithuanian discourse.}},
  author       = {{Tedrup, Carl}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Rethinking intergroup relations - A comparative study of threat perceptions in Estonian and Lithuanian political discourse 2014-2018}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}