Securitization and Desecuritization in Media Discourse: Conceptualization and Methodological Model of Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/10.17721/2522-1272.2026.89.5Keywords:
security, securitization, desecuritization, media discourse, critical discourse analysis, framing, linguistic and discursive markers, categorical matrixAbstract
The study of the security dimension of mass communication is driven by the lack of a comprehensive theoretical and methodological understanding of the mechanisms through which media discourse constructs, amplifies, or mitigates perceptions of societal threats. This study aims to conceptualize securitization and desecuritization in contemporary media discourse and to develop a methodological model for their analysis based on a categorical matrix and critical discourse analysis. Theoretical Contribution. Drawing on the work of the Copenhagen, Paris, and contemporary schools of security studies, this research proceeds from the premise that securitization and desecuritization in media discourse are multidirectional yet interrelated journalistic practices that differ in their discursive functions, communicative strategies, dominant frames, media roles, and societal outcomes. Methodological Contribution. The methodological contribution lies in integrating traditional and contemporary security studies with the tools of critical discourse analysis, the concept of framing, and the sociocognitive approach, thereby enabling the transition from conceptual considerations to operationalization. Author’s Contribution. The author develops an analytical matrix that integrates linguistic markers, intensity levels, contextual parameters, and discursive categories. Practical Contribution. The proposed operationalization framework and analytical tools can be applied in future empirical studies of media texts addressing political, military, international, economic, technical, and other topics, as well as in comparative studies of Ukrainian and international media. The integration of conceptual, discursive, and empirical perspectives provides a foundation for a comprehensive understanding of securitization and desecuritization in the modern media landscape.
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