| Abstract [eng] |
Analysis of plenary sittings stenographs of XIIve Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania allows to understand how policy makers define immigration and also in which contexts they discuss this phenomenon. Discourse plays an important role in the political and public contexts because it not only reflects but also shapes or creates social reality, therefore the analysis of the topic of this research is certainly significant. The novelty of the research. The analysis of the various Lithuanian and foreign scientific literature showed that the various immigration discourses are analysed on the basis of media or focus group discussions, but the discursive representations of the phenomenon of immigration as constructed in institutional discourse in Seimas are not analysed. The object of the research: discursive representations of the phenomenon of immigration in institutional discourse in the XIIve term of Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. The aim of the research: to analyse the framing of immigration in institutional discourse in the XIIve term of Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. The objectives of the research: 1. To conduct theoretical analysis and statistical overview of various sources in order to better understand the social phenomenon of immigration and the role of institutional discourse in politics; 2. To ground the empirical research methodology; 3. To analyse empirically the framing of immigration in institutional discourse in the XIIve term of Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, employing plenary sittings stenographs as empirical basis. Theoretical framework used in this research includes theories of social constructionism, new institutionalism, agenda setting and issue framing. Methods of empirical research: statistical data overview; purposive criterion sampling; document analysis method; qualitative and quantitative content analysis. Empirical basis: 40 plenary sittings stenographs during time period 14th November 2016 - 19th October 2017. Conclusions: Issues of re-emigration, political regulation of immigration and activities of migration services are most often discussed while talking about immigration in institutional discourse in the XIIve term of Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. Topic of immigrants’ integration is also present in the discourse. Particular attention is paid to the aspects of illegal immigration and migration of scholars. Data shows that the Seimas primarily focuses on the return migration while issues affecting foreign immigrants are viewed as controversial and less frequently discussed by the politicians during the plenary sittings. The solutions of the problem and the definitions of the problem are most often addressed while framing the immigration during Seimas plenary sittings during time period 14th November 2016 - 19th October 2017. Meanwhile, the Seimas is paying less attention to discussions on the causes of immigration and to the normative/evaluative dimension of the issue. The topics most often associated with immigration are “economic issues”, “demographic challenges”, “emigration” and “national security”. In some cases, other themes become primary themes with immigration only slightly mentioned. Discussions on immigration during Seimas plenary sittings usually have a neutral emotional load. Positive and negative emotional loads are also present, with the latter being slightly more frequent. Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrat Political Group, Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Political Group and Liberals Movement Political Group speak the most about immigration. In addition, representatives of both Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrat Political Group and Liberals Movement Political Group, talking about the phenomenon of immigration, use similar vocabulary (as proved by cluster analysis). Experiences from other countries are most often referred to as the source of information about immigration. However, experts, as well as personal experiences of policy makers and information provided in the media are also referred to in the institutional discourse on immigration. |
