Media Representation of Muslim Migrants (2001-2024): A Comparative Analysis of Transnational Coverage in Western Countries and Russia

Abstract

Human mobility is a human right, or rather it should be in an ideal world. Migration in the contemporary context across the globe is recognized as an issue – one that also pertains to national security. National media discourse and political rhetoric in certain migrant-recipient countries of the West and Russia contribute towards the construction of an “othering” narrative, with Muslims in particular, constituting the main scapegoat. Since 9/11, the global “War on Terror” entailed an unprecedented scale of Muslim representation that arguably has lasting implications within the public sphere of nation states. It therefore becomes vital to connect media discourse to Muslim migration and pinpoint the extent to which it amplifies undue awareness towards a perceived issue. Recognizing the factors that shaped this trend and the repercussions that ensue are integral steps towards cultivating appropriate media literacy on a transnational level. The cases of the USA, Sweden, the UK, and Russia present converging as well as contrasting narratives that shed light on the issue and how it has evolved over the decades.