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Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of 'othering' within the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act

Publication ,  Journal Article
Huot, S; Bobadilla, A; Bailliard, A; Laliberte Rudman, D
Published in: International Migration
April 1, 2016

Immigration policy in Canada has recently shifted, reflecting changes in other Western countries. We studied the discursive constructions of forced migrants within Bill C-31 "Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act" and its associated Backgrounder documents published by the Canadian Government. The documents were analysed using an approach to critical discourse analysis adapted from Bacchi's (2009) methodology and informed by a theoretical framework of "othering". Particular groups of migrants were represented as posing threats to the economy, the integrity of the refugee system, and national security. The documents offered three solutions: the creation of specific categories of migrants, an emphasis upon efficiency of the system, and expanded powers to the government. The problematization of asylum seekers as posing multiple threats to Canadian society obfuscates governmental responsibilities to this population and reflects common strategies of neoliberal governance. International Migration

Duke Scholars

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Published In

International Migration

DOI

EISSN

1468-2435

ISSN

0020-7985

Publication Date

April 1, 2016

Volume

54

Issue

2

Start / End Page

131 / 143

Related Subject Headings

  • Demography
  • 44 Human society
  • 1608 Sociology
  • 1603 Demography
  • 1601 Anthropology
 

Citation

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Huot, S., Bobadilla, A., Bailliard, A., & Laliberte Rudman, D. (2016). Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of 'othering' within the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act. International Migration, 54(2), 131–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12210
Huot, S., A. Bobadilla, A. Bailliard, and D. Laliberte Rudman. “Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of 'othering' within the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act.” International Migration 54, no. 2 (April 1, 2016): 131–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12210.
Huot S, Bobadilla A, Bailliard A, Laliberte Rudman D. Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of 'othering' within the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act. International Migration. 2016 Apr 1;54(2):131–43.
Huot, S., et al. “Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of 'othering' within the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act.” International Migration, vol. 54, no. 2, Apr. 2016, pp. 131–43. Scopus, doi:10.1111/imig.12210.
Huot S, Bobadilla A, Bailliard A, Laliberte Rudman D. Constructing undesirables: A critical discourse analysis of 'othering' within the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act. International Migration. 2016 Apr 1;54(2):131–143.
Journal cover image

Published In

International Migration

DOI

EISSN

1468-2435

ISSN

0020-7985

Publication Date

April 1, 2016

Volume

54

Issue

2

Start / End Page

131 / 143

Related Subject Headings

  • Demography
  • 44 Human society
  • 1608 Sociology
  • 1603 Demography
  • 1601 Anthropology