Securitization Theory and Danish Discourse during the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2021)

Abstract

Using the case of Danish discourse during the COVID-19 pandemic, this thesis explores the influence of counter-securitization on a primary securitization narrative. In doing so, this thesis identifies the characteristics of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's primary securitization of the COVID-19 pandemic. The counter-securitization narrative in question is the securitization of the government's crisis management by the Men in Black protest group. The thesis employs discourse analysis to uncover how counter-securitization impacted the primary securitization narrative. The findings suggest that the counter-securitization of the Men in Black, indeed, had a significant effect on the primary securitization narrative. The presence of the counter-securitization narrative prompted the primary securitization actor, Mette Frederiksen, to change her construction of the threat and the referent object. It also caused her to focus her justifications for the security construction on other actors besides herself. The insights gained from the findings add to the academic debate about the impact of counter-securitization. Keywords: Securitization, Counter-securitization, COVID-19, Discourse analysis, Denmark, Social policy language, Mette Frederiksen, Men in Black