A Refugee Crisis Without Refugees: Policy and media discourse on refugees in the Czech Republic and its implications

Abstract

Along with other Central and Eastern European counties, Czechia has invested significant effort in deterring refugees from entering the country during the ‘refugee crisis’. This article sheds light on the role of the media in legitimising anti-refugee policies by analysing the politicised discourse on refugees in 900 articles published in Czech newspapers between 2014 and 2016. The findings indicate that refugees were depicted as a security threat and an administrative burden partly imposed by the European Union. The article discusses the policy implications of depicting refugees in this way and thus broadens the literature on European narratives during the refugee emergency in Europe.

Attitudes of young Czechs towards immigration: comparison of 2011 and 2016

“…Overall, Czechia had above-average experiences with immigration in the Eastern-European context in 2015 and it was influenced by the so called migration crisis in 2015 and 2016 much less than other countries, especially when compared to its neighbour Germany. Yet an atmosphere of fear or even panic has been created, persuading many inhabitants that there are masses of dangerous migrants from Africa and the Middle East who are coming to ruin the country (Jelínková 2019). The topic of immigration came to be considered one of the top issues faced by Czechia and the EU (Eurobarometer 2011 and 2016).…”

“…The manner of such debates was often manipulative. As a result, questions about immigration have had a decisive influence on political elections in the last years (Jelínková 2019). This seems to make little sense: why would migration and refugees become such a hot topic in a state that experiences moderate levels of immigration and very low numbers or asylum applications?…”

“…In 2013, 77% of Czechs were willing to accept people fleeing war and natural disasters. In 2015, this number dropped to only 2% (Jelínková 2019). The attitudes towards people with different religion, namely Muslims, have also changed over last years (e.g.…”

“…This switch is quite possibly linked to the negative tone of the Czech media when referring to migration and the mostly negative portrayal of migrants and migration by Czech political leaders. At the same time, there were important initiatives of solidarity in the period of the "migration crisis" -for example Czech volunteers working in the Balkans (Jelínková 2019).…”

Examining Illiberal Trends and Anti-EU Politics in East Central Europe from a Domestic Perspective: State of Research and Outline of the Book

“…The following year, it invested millions in billboards, leaflets, TV commercials, and mass mailings to spread its anti-immigrant appeals and to demonise Brussels (Krekó and Enyedi 2018, p. 45). Similarly, Czech politicians criticised "the Brussels dictatorship", echoing the well-known phrase of the former "Moscow dictatorship" (Jelínková 2019). Also, the Polish government regularly railed against the EU's intrusion into national affairs.…”