‘Stranger Danger!’ Mapping the (counter-)framing, perception of, and response strategies to migration and radicalisation in Belgium

Stranger danger, or the perception of the 'unknown other' as dangerous, contributes to the construction of in-groups versus out-groups within a polarizing society. For years, the main 'other' in the West has been 'the Muslim'. The framing of this other as either a victim or as an intruder through wide-spread media messages interacts with audience perceptions of minorities, resulting in a socially constructed reality. Narratives on Islam and Muslims are known to be predominantly negative and stereotypical. In the wake of a relentless War-on-Terror, othering dynamics are manifested in the handling of the sensitive and equally important topics migration and radicalization, which are the focus of this dissertation. A securitized discourse fosters fear and creates a so-called suspect community, citizens perceived as dangerous based on their assumed religion, migration background or appearance. After a literature study on the mentioned themes, this dissertation formulates an answer to the resultant four research questions within a Belgian context. First, to uncover the (counter-)frames on migration and radicalization beyond a polarizing Victim versus Intruder dichotomy. Second, to incorporate how members of the suspect community perceive the dominant framing. Third, to develop a suitable methodology to facilitate research on similar sensitive topics. Fourth, to translate theoretical knowledge into a practical tool to respond to polarizing issues. The ensuing dissertation is divided into three parts: Content, Perception and Applicability.

Publication year:2021

Accessibility:Open