Securitizing Russia in the European Parliament: a case of Poland’s PiS and Hungary’s Fidesz

Abstract

This master's thesis seeks to understand the framing construction of Russia as a security threat(securitization) by Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) and Hungary's Hungarian Civic Alliance (Fidesz) in the European Parliament. By doing so, it contributes to discussions around the securitization of Russia at the European level. Central to this investigation is the War in Ukraine, an event that reshaped the European security landscape (Fiott, 2023). The war's significance is further underlined by its importance in the plenaries of European Parliament, illustrating its importance on the European agenda. Within the European Parliamentary plenaries, debates offer a chance to observe members' positions, providing a platform where security discourses can either amplify or minimize security responses. This study's main framework is "securitization as the work of framing", is pivotal in examining the narratives around what is threatened (referent objects), the nature of the threat, the actors advocating for securitization, who securitizes(subject) and the proposed remedial actions. By integrating securitization theory with a framing approach, this research aims to identify explicit and implicit frames concerning securitization of Russia. The research finds that Poland's PiS and Hungary's Fidesz members of the European Parliament both condemn Russian aggression in Ukraine and address securitization of Russia, but diverge in their approaches: PiS members view Russia as an existential threat, while Fidesz frame Russia as the initiator of the War. Fidesz members emphasize on the implications of the War, consequently employing desecuritization frames. Both parties prioritize human security, but criticize the EU's response, suggesting a strategic use of Russia's securitization in their populist discourses. Despite growing interest in the implications of the War in Ukraine, few studies address securitization of Russia within this context. As the war introduces new security challenges, from energy to human security, this thesis aims to uncover emerging security frames, offering a fresh perspective on the region's evolving dynamics.