This concept note develops a conceptual and methodological framework for the analysis of how different narratives shape, and are deployed in, political debate and policy-making. It sets out the features and functions of narratives in public political debate and policy-making; analyses how actors respond to different narratives; and develops a method for empirically identifying these strategies.
A comparative analysis of innovative strategies against exclusionary discourses
This Working Paper brings together key findings on innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives on migration in Germany, Italy, and Spain. It compares crucial insights and draws conclusions that feed into recommendations for other civil society organisations.
Innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives: the case of Spain
This Working Paper examines two civil society organisations that have succeeded in spreading inclusive narratives on migration across Spain – Stop Mare Mortum and RegularizaciónYa –, analysing the nature of these narratives, their audience, their composition, their ambition, and their impact.
Innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives: the case of Italy
This Working Paper examines two civil society organisations that have succeeded in spreading inclusive discourses on migration across Italy – Accolgo and Dalla parte giusta della storia –, focusing on how they construct their networks, their communication strategies and their narratives.
Innovative strategies against exclusionary narratives: the case of Germany
This Working Paper investigates alternative, counter-hegemonic narratives on migration in Germany, focusing on the cases of two civil society organisations – Seebrücke and Netzwerk medien.vielfalt! – that successfully managed to enter the hegemonic discourse on migration in this country.
A comparative study on the role of narratives in migratory decision-making
This Working Paper compares the role of narratives in the decisions of potential migrants in the Gambia as well as Afghan transit migrants and refugees in Turkey, analysing how the messages promoted by EU-funded information campaigns compete with locally dominant narratives on migration.
The role of narratives in migratory decision-making: the case of Afghans in Turkey
This Working Paper explores how personal experiences of Afghan migrants and refugees residing in Turkey, as well as their access to networked information sources, create their dominant narrative on onward migration, building on 46 qualitative interviews interviews with Afghans in Istanbul.
The role of narratives in migratory decision-making: the case of the Gambia
This Working Paper investigates how locally dominant and EU-promoted narratives on migration interact and influence the decisions of potential migrants in the Gambia, building on focus groups and in-depth interviews with 60 Gambian youngsters who think about migrating abroad.
Migration narrative in media and social media: the case of Germany
This Working Paper analyses the main narratives on migration developed in traditional and social media around three different case studies in Germany: the debate over taking in refugees from the Moria camp after a fire in September 2020; a new integration law in 2016; and the terrorist attack in Berlin in December 2016.
Migration narratives in media and social media: the case of France
This Working Paper analyses the main narratives on migration developed in traditional and social media around three different case studies in France: the terrorist attack on the Nice basilica in 2020; the irregular crossings from Calais to the UK through the Channel Tunnel in 2015; and the burkini controversy in 2016.
Migration narratives in media and social media: the case of Spain
This Working Paper analyses the main narratives on migration developed in traditional and social media around three events in Spain: the Ceuta migration crisis in May 2021; the publication of a poster on unaccompanied minors by the extreme-right party VOX; and the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils.
A comparative analysis of migration narratives in traditional and social media
This Working Paper compares the production of narratives on migration in the media arena in six different European countries – France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and the UK –, focusing on the ingredients, actors, circumstances, strategies, and infrastructure of narrative success.
