The influence of populism on migration framing by interest groups in the European Union: an analysis of changing frames
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2025-09-26
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en
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This thesis examines how European interest groups frame migration policy in response to the rise of populism between 2009 and 2025. It explores whether and how these organisations adapt their framing to remain relevant within an increasingly politicised EU governance landscape. The study aims to provide insight into the adaptability of interest group framing under shifting political conditions, with a particular focus on populism. It also reflects on the risks of normalising discourse that may undermine liberal democratic norms.
Based on a qualitative content analysis of 131 documents from ECRE, MPG, and the Meijers Committee, the research traces shifts in both general communicative frames and migration-specific frames. The timeframe is divided into two periods: 2009–2013, preceding the populist surge, and 2014–2025, shaped by its ascendancy.
Findings show that, despite increased politicisation, interest groups continue to rely on legal reasoning and a rights-based lens. Human rights remain the central normative anchor, even as framing expands to include governance-related concerns such as Member State resistance and institutional inertia. The tone remains technocratic and constructive, resisting populist rhetoric. The study concludes that populism has prompted adaptation in content, but not in communicative form, and recommends greater theoretical attention to the stabilising role of human rights.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen