The “Refugee Problem”: German Refugees in the Danish Media (1945-1946).

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2023-06-15
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en
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This study, examined how the Danish media, such as the illegal press, Berlingske Tidende, and Politiken, constructed German refugees in the period from 1945 until the repatriation in November 1946. Employing discourse analysis and drawing on Rodney Benson's victim, hero, and threat frames, the study explored the construction of refugees and compared it to contemporary framing. The findings revealed that German refugees were predominantly depicted negatively, especially by illegal newspapers during the occupation, where they were portrayed as enemies. The censored newspapers rarely mentioned German refugees, possibly due to German censorship or an intentional negative framing strategy. After Denmark's liberation, refugees were primarily portrayed as a problem, emphasizing health concerns, fiscal threats, or space issues. While a more positive construction of refugees was occasionally observed, German refugees were not framed as victims due to their perceived self-induced suffering. However, during the first repatriation, they framed as victims, featuring personal stories.
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