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Abstract

The rise in Islamophobia has exacerbated since 9/11 into a forefront global phenomenon and sentiments are often covertly projected throughout the literature we consume on a daily basis. The purpose of this research project is to examine how securitization theory has made the oppressive climate imposed unto the Uyghur ethnicity in contemporary China possible. Whilst theories of securitization have often explored the concepts of migration, climate change and terrorism, these are often projected onto instances within contemporary Europe and under the conclusion of war. The subsequent research of this thesis highlights the relationship between an overlooked concept of ethnicity and security within Asia, where an apparent cultural genocide has materialised. Implementation of the Copenhagen School’s theory of securitization allowed for the analysis of the discursive construction of ethnicity and religion in Chinese media. The research applies Norman Fairclough’s model of Critical Discourse Analysis to a selection of articles from two of the most influential Chinese newspapers. The sample observed a period of 12 months between November 2013 and November 2014 in order to provide a sufficient examination of any political developments. Implementing a multidimensional model whilst incorporating Michael Halliday’s adaption of systematic functional linguistics allowed for an analysis beyond just the examination of literature. Both the Global Times and China Daily have stringently utilised linguistic practises to project a damaging depiction of Uyghurs and Islam that does not correlate with reality. The major discourse identified presented an exclusive relationship between Uyghurs and violence, whom, are supposedly complicit to all terrorist activity within China. These have been made possible through the lexicalization’s often delineating Uyghurs as terrorists and separatists. The research concludes that counter-terrorism procedures evident within China have been tailored towards the strict regulation of the Uyghur ethnicity, made justifiable through the relentless misconceptions printed within the media.

Course: International Relations - MA - P2929FTD

Date Deposited: 2022-08-18

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14002.html