Svenska våldsvågen: inhemskterrorism eller förvriden brottsroman? : En kritisk diskursanalys av svenska kvällstidningarskonstruktion av våldsvågen i september 2023

Sammanfattning: In 2023 Sweden experienced a large increase in organized crime which resulted in a series of explosions and gun-violence mainly between two criminal organizations. This received major attention from both the political arena and news outlets. The purpose of this study is to explore how Swedish news media construct their articles about the criminal organizations and perpetrators during the wave of ‘gang-violence’ during 2023. Using a qualitative critical discourse analysis the two largest evening newspapers in Sweden were analyzed. The results indicate that the criminal gangs and their leaders are constructed as well organized and systematic in their activities while the average members are constructed as disorganized, if described at all. The leaders are constructed in ways similar to celebrities or leaders of their own military. The youth members are constructed as victims of the gangs at the same frequency as they are average members. Finally, the potential effects this discourse may lead to is also discussed.