En svensk tiger…jamar? : Den svenska självbilden under Natoprocessen 2022–2023 som exempel på demokratisk propaganda

Sammanfattning: The primary purpose of this thesis is to analyze the rhetorical transformations of the Swedish self-image during the NATO process, particularly through the lens of democratic propaganda as described by the French philosopher and sociologist Jacques Ellul. It explores how this image is constructed and communicated in Swedish media, with a specific focus on the public service broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT). The research methodology employed in this thesis is a thematic-oriented close reading approach. The analysis concentrates on passages that primarily discuss the image of Sweden, examining them within the framework of Jacques Ellul's theory of democratic propaganda. The study explores the characteristics of democratic propaganda, its mechanisms, and manifestations. Of particular interest are aspects related to how democratic propaganda can help the state reinforce collective myths about the ideals of democracy as reflected in the analyzed material. Rather than using a specific rhetorical analysis method such as topic analysis or cluster analysis, the study is guided by the questions motivated by the theory itself.