Kilby, Laura and Horowitz, Ava and Hylton, Patrick (2013) Diversity as victim to ‘realistic liberalism’: analysis of an elite discourse of immigration, ethnicity and society. Critical Discourse Studies, 10 (1). pp. 47-60. ISSN 1740-5904

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Abstract

Analysis of contemporary political discourse reveals that the topics of ‘immigration’ and ‘asylum’, historically the preserve of extreme right-wing politics, have increasingly entered more centrist conservative discourse. Meanwhile, it is also argued that elite political discourse on ethnic affairs cuts across traditional political divides. Thus, contemporary left-wing discourses also require scrutiny. The current article examines one example of elite discourse from liberal media commentary, which addresses ideological concerns regarding diversity, immigration and the welfare state in Britain. Adopting a discursive analytic approach, three predominant discursive themes are identified in the text, which we term: ‘Unnatural Sharing’, ‘Diversity as Ethnic Difference’ and ‘Immigrant-Minorities Alchemy’. Through careful examination of these themes, we show how, via their engagement, the text subtly yet persuasively builds a version of ‘reality’ inimical to progressive ideals.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	discourse, diversity, elites, immigration, racism, media, liberalism, ethnicity
Subjects:	C Biological Sciences > C800 Psychology C Biological Sciences > C880 Social Psychology
Divisions:	College of Social Sciences > Faculty of Health & Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User:	Alison Wilson
Date Deposited:	10 Dec 2012 22:07
Last Modified:	29 Apr 2013 08:34
URI:	http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/6965

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