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A Drones Eye View: Framing Drone Warfare: A Qualitative Analysis of SVT’s Documentary Dödens drönare (Drones of Death)

Palmblad, Henrik LU (2025) FKVK02 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In 2023, Russia invaded Ukraine and began an occupation of large parts of the country. This invasion sparked concern in many nations and led to an increased interest in defence issues, thereby triggering a narrative of rearmament. A major focus within this rearmament narrative is the drone, which, in the midst of the war, became a game changer for both the Russians and the Ukrainians. The drone is portrayed as the future of modern warfare; however, many states, including Sweden, lack sufficient drone capabilities. Justifying increased government investment in drones is difficult, particularly in light of an already strained economic situation. This creates a necessity to understand how framing and agenda setting influence what issues are... (More)
In 2023, Russia invaded Ukraine and began an occupation of large parts of the country. This invasion sparked concern in many nations and led to an increased interest in defence issues, thereby triggering a narrative of rearmament. A major focus within this rearmament narrative is the drone, which, in the midst of the war, became a game changer for both the Russians and the Ukrainians. The drone is portrayed as the future of modern warfare; however, many states, including Sweden, lack sufficient drone capabilities. Justifying increased government investment in drones is difficult, particularly in light of an already strained economic situation. This creates a necessity to understand how framing and agenda setting influence what issues are perceived as important. By using Entman's framing functions, together with the theoretical lenses of constructivism, securitization, and agenda setting, this paper highlights a particular framing in the Swedish public service documentary that supports the rearmament narrative. The framing demonstrates that even Swedish public service prioritizes certain issues over others, making it clear that SVT’s norm- and identity-based framing has been part of a securitization process, one that coincides with a broader narrative focused on countering drones by increasing drone capabilities. (Less)
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author
Palmblad, Henrik LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Drones, Framing, Securitization, Agenda-Setting, SVT
language
English
id
9210222
date added to LUP
2025-09-10 15:44:47
date last changed
2025-09-10 15:44:47
@misc{9210222,
  abstract     = {{In 2023, Russia invaded Ukraine and began an occupation of large parts of the country. This invasion sparked concern in many nations and led to an increased interest in defence issues, thereby triggering a narrative of rearmament. A major focus within this rearmament narrative is the drone, which, in the midst of the war, became a game changer for both the Russians and the Ukrainians. The drone is portrayed as the future of modern warfare; however, many states, including Sweden, lack sufficient drone capabilities. Justifying increased government investment in drones is difficult, particularly in light of an already strained economic situation. This creates a necessity to understand how framing and agenda setting influence what issues are perceived as important. By using Entman's framing functions, together with the theoretical lenses of constructivism, securitization, and agenda setting, this paper highlights a particular framing in the Swedish public service documentary that supports the rearmament narrative. The framing demonstrates that even Swedish public service prioritizes certain issues over others, making it clear that SVT’s norm- and identity-based framing has been part of a securitization process, one that coincides with a broader narrative focused on countering drones by increasing drone capabilities.}},
  author       = {{Palmblad, Henrik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A Drones Eye View: Framing Drone Warfare: A Qualitative Analysis of SVT’s Documentary Dödens drönare (Drones of Death)}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}